Ashford Borough Council receives gold award from Ministry of Defence for ongoing Armed Forces support

Ashford Borough Council has been awarded Gold under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), the Ministry of Defence’s highest award for organisations that demonstrate outstanding support for the Armed Forces community.

The Gold Award recognises the council’s long-term commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and its work to support serving personnel, reservists, veterans, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and military families across the borough.

As part of its commitment, the council has amended its Leave of Absence Policy to provide at least ten days of additional paid leave each year for reservist training commitments, meeting a key requirement of the ERS Gold Award.

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme celebrates employers that go above and beyond their Armed Forces Covenant pledges by embedding supportive workplace policies, promoting understanding of defence issues, and encouraging others to support the Armed Forces community.

Ashford is proud of its strong military history and important connections with the reservist and regular forces communities, having signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant on 10 May 2014.

This pledge ensures that the council will do all it can to ensure that those who serve are treated fairly and not disadvantaged in their day-to-day lives. This includes offering injured servicemen and women and bereaved families extra support where appropriate.

Cllr Noel Ovenden, Leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “We are extremely proud that Ashford Borough Council has achieved the ERS Gold Award. This is an important recognition of our commitment to the Armed Forces community and the practical steps we are taking to support those who serve, have served, and their families.

“Our Armed Forces community makes a valuable contribution to the borough, and this award reflects our determination to ensure they are treated fairly, supported in our workplace and above all, that their duty, service and sacrifice are recognised.”

Support for our Armed Forces Community

If you are a serving member of the Armed Forces, a veteran, a reservist or a family member, you may be entitled to additional support.

Ashford Borough Council works with local and national partners to help ensure this support is easy to access and fairly delivered.

Help is always available for our Armed Forces community in Ashford, including advice on housing, health, employment, finances and family support.

For more information on the support available or if you are a local organisation wishing to pledge your support to our Armed Forces Community Covenant, visit our recently redesigned Armed Forces dedicated web pages.