Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols recently joined civic and community leaders, as well as serving and retired members of the armed forces at Peninsula Barracks for the Cheshire Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Conference.
The Cheshire Armed Forces Covenant Conference is an opportunity for everyone interested in delivery of the Covenant to get together to network, to share best practice, and to learn about the latest Covenant developments. It is organised by the Ministry of Defence, and attended by representatives from central, devolved and local government, the leading Armed Forces charities, the NHS and education sectors, academics, and more.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, including the bereaved, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy, and society they serve with their lives.
The first principle of the Covenant is: Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Disadvantage is when any member or group in the Armed Forces community has worse access to goods or services than is normal for a comparable group in the general population, due to service life.
The second principle of the Covenant is: Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved. Special provision is when a member or group in the Armed Forces community sacrificing the most has better access to goods and services than is normal for a comparable group in the general population and the rest of the Armed Forces community.
Warrington Borough Council are now looking to refresh and strengthen their commitment through a formal Armed Forces Covenant pledge and is underway to develop Warrington’s Covenant pledge.
Charlotte Nichols MP said, “A fascinating day at the Cheshire Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Conference, hosted at the 75 Engineer Regiment Peninsula Barracks, hearing from a range of different organisations about the challenges faced by our armed forces and veterans community, and how we can make sure that all those who serve our country get the support they need”.
“Thank you to everyone who shared their insights today, and to all the veterans who attended, for the opportunity to listen and to reflect on what can be done locally and nationally for our veterans community and their families”.
