The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk has achieved the highest national award recognising its support for the local Armed Forces Community.
The council has been awarded Gold under the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme, recognising its commitment to serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families.
West Norfolk has been a long-standing signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant – a pledge to ensure that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly and with respect.
The council previously held a Silver Award and has now progressed to Gold in recognition of the practical support it provides to the Armed Forces Community.
This includes employment-related support for council employees who are reservists, as well as assistance for people leaving the Armed Forces who need help finding employment or accessing training.
Several council employees are members of the Armed Forces Community, including serving reservists.
The award has been welcomed by West Norfolk Mayor Councillor Steve Bearshaw, who served in the RAF for 29 years and is the borough’s Armed Forces Member Champion and a member of the Norfolk Armed Forces Covenant Board.
“We are immensely proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant,” he said.
“As a long-serving member of the RAF, I am genuinely excited to achieve the Gold Award because it’s national recognition of our active support for our incredible local Armed Forces and Veteran Community who contribute so much to life in the borough.”
Cllr Bearshaw also encouraged other organisations across West Norfolk to consider signing the Armed Forces Covenant.
“Signing the Armed Forces Covenant is something many organisations can do, you can tailor it to your organisation, and it’s a great way for businesses, community groups, public bodies and other organisations to show their mutual support for our serving Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans, cadets and their families.”
The borough is home to RAF Marham, which has a significant connection with the local community.
Council Chief Executive Kate Blakemore said the authority was proud to have RAF Marham in West Norfolk and to have reservists among its own workforce.
“We have support in place for our Armed Forces Community and I would like to recognise and thank all those who contributed to achieving the Gold Award, something that relatively few councils nationally have achieved,” she said.
Group Captain Leonie Boyd, who until recently was RAF Marham Station Commander, also congratulated the council.
She described the award as recognition of the council’s support for those who serve, have served and their families, and said RAF Marham appreciated the continued commitment of the borough council and wider local community.
She added that the strong relationship between RAF Marham and the local community was a source of pride and that the award reflected the spirit of partnership between them.
Businesses, parish and town councils, community groups and other organisations can also make a voluntary pledge under the Armed Forces Covenant.
Commitments can be tailored to individual organisations and could include supporting Armed Forces Day, employing veterans, supporting reservists, offering flexibility to service spouses and partners, supporting local cadet units or providing discounts to members of the Armed Forces Community.
Image: Cllr Steve Bearshaw, the Mayor, at RAF Marham with Group Captain Leonie Boyd (L), RAF Marham Station Commander until recently, and Group Captain Jim Calvert (R), Commander Lightning.
