A historic pact, the first ever of its kind in London, has been agreed between Croydon Council and the armed forces. The agreement, signed by Council dignitaries, representatives of the army, navy and RAF, and delegates from the local community, at the Croydon Clocktower on the 15th of December 2011, will offer increased support for members of the armed forces living in the Croydon area.
The Croydon Armed Forces Community Covenant, as it is known, will serve to ensure that the appropriate help is given to service men and women, and their families, in the areas of work and training, housing, social services, school admissions and medical needs. The unprecedented level of support afforded by the legal agreement will also extend to veterans, reservists and cadets.
The covenant aims to raise awareness amongst local communities about the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces and to encourage their support in helping returning members integrate into local life.
The community of Croydon is already recognised for its outstanding support for the armed forces and its role in military history can be traced back to as early as 1799. A homecoming parade of the Rifles Brigade in 2009 was attended by thousands of well-wishers who lined the streets to welcome the service personnel home. The Rifles Brigade was subsequently awarded the coveted ‘Freedom of Croydon’ in early 2011.
A series of festivals and other events are planned to run in conjunction with Armed Forces Day in June 2012 to further raise awareness of this remarkable covenant.
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