Council welcomes work of Highland Armed Forces Community Covenant Partnership

22nd December 2014

Members of The Highland Council have welcomed the work of the Highland Armed Forces Community Covenant Partnership and endorsed the partnership's future priorities.

At a meeting of The Highland Council (on 18 December 2014) Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Jimmy Gray thanked Armed Forces Veterans Champion, Councillor Carolyn Caddick for her work with the Highland Armed Forces Community Covenant Partnership as Armed Forces Veterans' Champion over the past two and half years and also welcomed Councillor Allan Duffy - who will now take the lead as Veterans’ Champion - to his new role.

Speaking about the achievements of the Highland Armed Forces Community Covenant Partnership, Convener Gray said: "It is really gratifying to know that The Highland Council area is viewed by the military in Scotland as one of the leading Local Authorities in the implementation of the Armed Forces Community Covenant."

Councillor Caddick said: "The Covenant Partnership is a clear demonstration of our commitment to strengthening the links the between the armed forces and communities in the Highlands. It is recognised as one of the leading partnerships in Scotland and indeed in the UK. We have been able to draw down significant funds and I’m looking forward to the building of 5 adapted homes for disabled veterans and their families in Inverness in 2015."

She added: “None of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of all the partnership members. Councillor Allan Duffy will take over as the Armed Forces Lead and I would like to wish him well in the coming years in his role. At this time our thoughts need to be with our serving forces and their families who are on duty at this time of year and who face the festive season apart.”

Councillor Duffy added: “I am delighted to take on the role of Veteran’s Champion for the remainder of the Covenant’s term and would like to thank Carolyn for all the work that she has done in the first half of the Covenant. I would also like to thank all the staff who have worked behind the scenes to make sure that all the hard work is done in achieving the Partnership’s aims.

He added: “Highland Council are already being seen to lead on how things are done for the armed forces and the wider community through the Covenant and other Councils could learn a lot from the good work in Highland. I hope to continue to work within all groups across the council to maintain the excellent record that the Highland Armed Forces Community Covenant Partnership has achieved so far.”

In October 2012 The Highland Council signed the Highland Armed Forces Community Covenant along with twelve other partners - the Armed Forces Community; Highlands and Islands Enterprise; Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service; Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association; Highland Third Sector Interface; Job Centre Plus; NHS Highland; Northern Constabulary; Royal British Legion Scotland; Scottish Natural Heritage; SSAFA (Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association) Forces Help; and the University of the Highlands and Islands.

The Covenant is a statement of support between the armed forces and the civilian community. The aim is to encourage support for the service community in a local area and raise awareness of issues affecting service personnel. A copy of the Highland Council Covenant is at
http://www.highland.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/4566/armed_forces_community_covenant_for_highland