Shropshire Council flying the flag for our Armed Forces
Sarah Kerr, Shropshire Council’s Armed Forces Covenant Outreach support co-ordinator, Shropshire Council chairman Vince Hunt, Shropshire Council leader Lezley Picton, Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire Lieut Col (rtd) Ian Sawers, RAF Shawbury Station Commander Group Cptn Phil Wadlow, Shropshire Council chief executive Andy Begley, Shropshire Council Cabinet member with responsibility for the Armed Forces Covenant Ian Nellins and Lieut Col (rtd) Tony Jones RAMC .
Shropshire Council is celebrating Armed Forces Week (Monday 20 June until Sunday 26 June 2022) to show its continued support to the county’s military community.
As part of its support through the Armed Forces Covenant pledge, the council marked the start of the week with a flag raising ceremony today at 9am at Shirehall in Shrewsbury. The flag will also be flown at Shrewsbury Castle and Shrewsbury Library.
Reserves Day will take place on Wednesday 22 June, which will be marked with an event in the Quarry Park in Shrewsbury involving the 8 Rifles, service charities and Shropshire Council’s Outreach service from 11am until 2.30pm, and Armed Forces Day is at the end of the week on Saturday 25 June.
Members of the Armed Forces, past and present, and their families can enjoy free access to Shropshire’s leisure and fitness centres throughout the week, subject to proof of service and local terms and conditions.
Ian Nellins, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for the Armed Forces Covenant, said:
“We’re extremely proud to support Shropshire’s Armed Forces community, and it is important that we continue to build on the great work we have done to date in partnership with our military partners and local businesses and charities.
“During the past year our Armed Forces have continued to train for, and deploy on, operations across the world, as well as providing specialist support within our communities at home.
“Armed Forces Week offers a great opportunity for us all to show the whole of the Armed Forces community some much deserved recognition.”
Shropshire Council first made its pledge to support the Armed Forces and their families by signing the Armed Forces Covenant in 2012 and by regularly renewing its support. Shropshire Council is currently a Gold Award Holder of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme acknowledging the council as one of the strongest advocates that currently exists.
To date, 120 Shropshire businesses across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, as the council continues to broaden the available support to its military community in partnership with the county’s business sector.
By signing the Covenant, businesses have made a number of pledges (including discounts and guaranteed job interviews etc.) and offers on how they intend to offer their support.
To understand more about Shropshire Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant visit: https://shropshire.gov.uk/armed-forces-support/armed-forces-covenant/
