Bromley Council has vowed to explore new ways to provide assistance to military personnel, veterans, reservists and families in the borough, while signing the Armed Forces Covenant.
The signing, which renews a commitment originally made by the borough ten years ago, took place during a ceremony held as part of Bromley Council’s Armed Forces Day activities.
Cllr Mike Botting, Mayor of Bromley and Armed Forces Champion, added: “The signing of the Covenant is a fantastic symbol of the esteem in which Bromley Council holds our Armed Forces residents and colleagues, and how much we want to ensure they feel welcomed and supported both within Bromley as an organisation and as a borough. I am delighted that, 10 years after it was first signed, Bromley has reaffirmed this commitment. We will use this historic event as impetus to explore further ways to support these people who do so much to help our country and our communities.”
Cllr Colin Smith, Leader of Bromley Council, commented: “I cannot over emphasise strongly enough, quite how committed everybody at Bromley Council remains to serving this noble cause.
“It was an absolute honour to have been fortunate enough to be a signatory of Bromley Council’s renewal of our pledge and it will remain a key priority to progress and improve the programme of works already underway to achieve our ambitions, until such time as they are accomplished.
“Both historically and to this very day, our fantastic Armed Forces are there to serve us all, and potentially, pay the ultimate price for doing so, and it is the very least that all of us can do to recognise that fact and support them at every possible turn.”
Both Cllr Smith and Cllr Botting signed the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of Bromley Council alongside Tasnim Shawkat, Director of Corporate Services. Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Sinclair, Commanding Officer 106 (Yeomanry) Regiment, signed on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
Lieutenant Colonel Sinclair commented: “It is evident that, with this renewal of its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, Bromley Council understands the richness of experiences, skills and aptitudes that Armed Forces personnel and families bring communities, neighbourhoods and not just to organisations. We are grateful for Bromley’s continued support and I am excited by the attitude of innovation shown by Bromley and look forward to hearing more about further support initiatives as well.”
The event, which featured a two-minute silence of remembrance and the raising of the Union Flag, was attended by representatives of the Armed Forces and the council, along with partner organisations and army cadets, police cadets, sea cadets and RAF cadets.
Of all the London boroughs, Bromley has the largest percentage of military veterans, with 2.5 per cent of Bromley residents having served in the Armed Forces. At the other end of the spectrum, the borough also has Army Cadet, Air Training and Sea Cadet Corps providing life skills, training and friendship for younger members of the community.
Bromley Council is proactive in its support of the Armed Forces and will strive to deepen and improve its support following the signing of the Covenant. Current activity spans from marking Remembrance Day and Armed Forces Day with services and attendance at events across the borough to ensuring military families are supported with housing, schooling and medical needs.
In the spirit of the Covenant, the council has recently published pages containing information for and about the military community in Bromley.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Head of Public Affairs, on 020 8461 7670 or email andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk