Rochdale Council wins national award for Armed Forces support

Brigadier Chris Coles, 42 Infantry Brigade, Mayor Cllr Surinder Biant and Cllr Alan McCarthy, Rochdale Council Lead Member for the Armed Forces

Rochdale Council has been recognised for introducing pioneering changes to better support armed forces personnel and their families back into civilian life.

At the 2015 North West Armed Forces Business Awards evening at the Imperial War Museum (north), on Friday 26 June, the Council won the National Silver Award.

Since Rochdale signed the Community Covenant in 2012 it has all been about putting words into actions.

The profile within the council has been raised of the impact of decisions or policies on the Armed Forces.

Information on the Armed Forces Community has been gathered so services can be better tailored to them.

Councillor Alan McCarthy said: "As the council's Lead Member for the Armed Forces I am proud that I have been able to help drive forward the changes, helping address the disadvantages Armed Forces families face.

"We were the first council in the country to introduce a ‘guaranteed interview scheme’ – where ex armed forces men and women looking for work are guaranteed a job interview at the council providing they meet the person specification and job description and have been out of the Armed Forces for a minimum of six months.

"Often getting an interview, and the chance to present yourself face-to-face rather than just in writing on an application form, is difficult.

"This is one of the ways we are helping to assist ex Armed Forces personnel and their families where we can, and we are encouraging other employers to do the same and realise what a tremendous asset they can be.

"We offer serving armed forces personnel and veterans free use of Link4Life fitness facilities and swimming pools.

"We have also renamed streets in our borough to honour our three VC recipients and Heywood`s MC recipient.

"We have a duty to support our Armed Forces for all they do for us. They have made great sacrifices in the name of our country, and Rochdale Council will continue to do all we can in return.

"We have always aimed to be supportive of the Armed Forces, but this award reinforces the work we do.

"My ethos is simple, no one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job, a roof over their head or care they need when they come home.”