A new deal for our armed forces

Friday, 12 November 2021 19:40

By David Murphy

Picture: Signing the new armed forces covenant – Chief Inspector Matt Oxley (GMP); Councillor Richard Gold; Cpl Adam Miles; Major Richard Smith; veteran Spencer Donnelly; Deputy Mayor Cllr Shaheena Haroon; Marcus Pollard

Bury Council and NHS Bury CCG have signed a new armed forces covenant which will help give serving members, veterans and their families the support they need and deserve.

The covenant was signed in the ceremonial chamber of Bury Town Hall by representatives from the armed forces, the council and the NHS.

It formally recognises the contribution that serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families make to Bury, ensuring that they are not disadvantaged and, in certain specific areas, are actually given priority.

Cllr Richard Gold, cabinet member for communities and armed forces champion, said: “Our armed forces defend our nation and keep us safe in the most dangerous of circumstances, and we have a moral obligation to ensure we look after them and their families.

“This covenant commits us all to support armed forces personnel, veterans and their families in key areas such as employment and skills, health and wellbeing, housing, and integration with the local community.

“Bury has a long and illustrious military tradition and we are proud to formally recognise this through signing this covenant.”

Dr Cathy Fines, chair of Bury NHS CCG, said: ““We are proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant. Our armed forces community should be able to enjoy the same standard of care and access to both physical and emotional health care as every member of our community.

“Our commitment will ensure that no member of the armed forces, present or past, or their family members, experience disadvantage or inequality, and that they should receive priority access to NHS care for service-related conditions.”

Signing on behalf of the armed forces was Major Richard Smith from Bury Army Reserve Centre.