Highland Council further commits to its Armed Forces Community

(l to r) standing: Shaun Calvin, Veterans Scotland; Major Alex Rose, 7 Scots; Jim Wilson, Veterans Scotland; Captain Peter Marshall, PSAO C Company 7 Scots; Roy McLellan, Regional Employment Engagement Director of Highland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association; Major MRM Gibson, Area Section North Royal Regiment Scotland; and seated (l to r) Highland Council Convener Cllr Bill Lobban; Cllr Roddy Balfour Armed Forces and Veterans’ Champion.

The Highland Council’s Armed Forces Covenant was signed during the ‘Highland Gathering’ at Inverness Town House on Tuesday 20 November, 2018.

The agreement is a way for employers to show their commitment to the armed forces and demonstrates that the Council is supporting its employees as reservists and veterans.  In return this allows the Council to benefit from the wide range of unique skills and experiences that reservists and veterans can bring to the organisation. 

The Council was a signatory to the Highland Armed Forces Community Covenant in 2012 along with many other partners.  The Community Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces community. It aims to encourage communities to support the Armed Forces and for the Armed Forces community to do as much as they can to assist and support their local community. Signing of the Community Covenant paved the way for communities in the Highlands to bid into the £10 million per annum Covenant Grant Scheme, which is operated by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. The scheme financially supports local projects that strengthen the ties or the mutual understanding between members of the Armed Forces Community and the wider community in which they live.

Full details of the scheme are available on the MOD and Highland Council websites.

Highland Council Convener, Councillor Bill Lobban who signed the Covenant said: “Historically, the Highlands have a great tradition of supporting the Armed Forces.  Signing this Covenant confirms The Highland Council’s own commitment to its Armed Forces Community.   We have also reinforced our intention to work closely with our partners and the widest community to honour the Highland Armed Forces Community Covenant."