West Norfolk’s borough council has received the highest national award recognising its support for the Armed Forces community.
The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk has achieved Gold in the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme, having previously held a Silver Award.
West Norfolk mayor Cllr Steve Bearshaw, who served for 29 years in the RAF, 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.”
The Armed Forces Covenant is a pledge that those serving in the Armed Forces, veterans and their families should be treated with fairness and respect.
The borough council is a long-standing signatory of the Covenant and employs members of the Armed Forces community, including active reservists.
The Gold Award recognises the council’s support for the Armed Forces community and the employment-related support it provides to reservists and people leaving the forces who need help finding jobs or training.
Cllr Bearshaw, who is also the borough’s Armed Forces member champion and a member of the Norfolk Armed Forces Covenant Board, encouraged other organisations to sign the Covenant.
He said: “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.”
Council chief executive Kate Blakemore said: “In West Norfolk, we are proud to be home to RAF Marham and to have a number of reservists among our own community of colleagues who alongside delivering vital council services also play their part in the defence of our nation.
“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.”
Group Captain Leonie Boyd, until recently RAF Marham station commander, also congratulated the council, describing the award as a reflection of its support for those who serve, have served and their families.
