Historic covenant signing for Army's North East Brigade
The British Army's largest regional brigade is the first to have signed up every local authority in its area to the Armed Forces Community Covenant.
Brigadier Greville Bibby, Commander of 15 (North East) Brigade, signs the Armed Forces Community Covenant at Barnsley Town Hall [Picture: Corporal Gabriel Moreno, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]
Members of 15 (North East) Brigade joined Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and its partners at the historic signing this week - just days after crowds of thousands lined the town’s streets to welcome home the Light Dragoons from their tour in Afghanistan.
Brigadier Greville Bibby, Commander of 15 (North East) Brigade, added his signature to that of Barnsley Council Leader Stephen Houghton, Commander David Pickthall, Chief of Staff at Naval Regional Command Northern England, and RAF Squadron Leader Phil Todd, of Recruiting North.
Following the signing ceremony in the town hall’s council chamber, Brigadier Bibby said:
The signing of an Armed Forces Community Covenant by the people of Barnsley is the final ceremony that sees all local authorities in my brigade area - representing a population of 7.8 million - pledge their support for their Armed Forces’ communities.
Supporters and signatories of the Armed Forces Community Covenant pose with the signed document at Barnsley Town Hall [Picture: Corporal Gabriel Moreno, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]
This achievement, along with the recent signing of the North East Armed Forces Community Charter by the Association of North East Councils, means that the people of Yorkshire, the Humber and the North East are leading the way with their support for the Armed Forces Community.
Brigadier Bibby added:
Barnsley has always been a Forces-friendly town, with the local community supporting military personnel both past and present.
The covenant will help cement that support at a local level and ensure that our Armed Forces, veterans and their families have the assistance they need and are treated with the dignity they deserve.
The signing of the Barnsley Armed Forces Community Covenant [Picture: Corporal Gabriel Moreno, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]
Stephen Houghton said:
Barnsley is delighted to add its signature to those of a growing number of local authorities across the county. The people of Barnsley have always been extremely grateful and proud of those men and women working in the Armed Forces.
Our signing of the Armed Forces Community Covenant is an opportunity for us to recognise, formally, our ongoing commitment to support those involved with and leaving the Forces.
The Armed Forces Community Covenant was drawn up in May 2011. It is aimed at building closer ties between military families and the local community within the 11 regional brigades that span the UK.
Since then, just over half of the 430 local authorities that are eligible to sign have made that commitment, with 15 (North East) Brigade - the largest regional brigade in the UK - being the first to get all local authorities within its area to sign up.