Council celebrates Reserves Day with joint event in Shrewsbury

The Council’s Armed Forces Covenant Team joined forces with the local Reserve Unit – 8 Rifles, to host an event in the Square in Shrewsbury on Wednesday 26 June, in honour of Reserves Day.

Reservists are civilians who volunteer to serve in the Armed Forces, combining their regular jobs with a military career. They are ready to be deployed as part of the military whenever their country needs them and currently Reservists are supporting operations worldwide.

Pictured: Shropshire Council employee and Reservist, Brian Johnston (left) and Selina Graham (right) Deputy Lieutenant and Chair of Trustee for Shropshire Community Foundation signing the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Reserve Forces make up approximately one sixth of our Armed Forces personnel and play a vital role in protecting the nation’s security at home and overseas.

To raise awareness of the vital contribution they make and celebrate their commitment, an annual Reserves Day was established to celebrate and recognise the valuable work Reservists do for our Armed Forces, and the Council is honoured to support this event.

The Council is committed to supporting the Armed Forces community and is a long-time signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Covenant is a promise by the Council that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy, and society they serve with their lives.

It was fitting therefore, that on Reserves Day, the Shropshire Community Foundation became the latest signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant. The Shropshire Community Foundation is a local organisation that supports small community groups and charities across the county. 

Sean McCarthy, Armed Forces Covenant Lead for Shropshire Council said:  “It’s great that the Council can celebrate reserves day as they play a vital role in supporting our Regular Armed Forces. We employ several reservists so we know the benefit they can bring to an organisation. It was great to see one of our reservists, Major Brian Johnston signing Shropshire Community Foundations Covenant on behalf of Defence.”