Cheshire East outlines continued support for the armed forces community

Cheshire East Council has pledged its ongoing support to defence and the armed forces community by committing to applying for the Gold Award from the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

First launched in 2014, The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme encourages employers to support defence, while inspiring others to do the same. The council was successful in receiving the Bronze Award in 2020 before later gaining the Silver Award in 2022. 

Cheshire East Council has a long history of supporting the armed forces community and made a commitment as part of its corporate plan to receive the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award by 2025.

The council works with a large number of charities and groups to demonstrate its dedication to serving personnel, reservists, veterans, families, cadets, and the wider military community across the borough. 

To achieve the Silver Award, work to date has included:

• The development of a network of breakfast clubs focused on tackling self-isolation, including the LBGTQ+ veterans’ community;
• In partnership with local veterans community groups, putting on the Armed Forces Day celebrations in Queen’s Park, Crewe in June 2022;
• Applying for funding from the Covenant Trust to run a digital inclusion project, providing training and support directly to the most vulnerable veterans in a bid to combat isolation;
• Working in close partnership with the NHS and the Department for Work and Pensions to provide direct assistance to veterans, and;
• An internal staff network group for veterans and their families, which helps to plan events, review policies and share news stories locally. 

Councillor Mick Warren, Cheshire East Council’s committee chair for environment and communities, said:

“As a former soldier, I am immensely proud of the work the council does to support the armed forces community and their families across the borough.

“The Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award is testament to our commitment to continuing this support.”

Councillor Ashley Farrall, armed forces champion at Cheshire East Council, said:

“We employ a number of serving Reservists and are committed to providing them with the support they need to thrive in their careers and to balance their work and military commitments and will continue to support the armed forces community.

“I hope that we can now go on to achieve the Gold Award – the highest level of recognition in the scheme.”

More information on the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme can be found here: 

government website