THE COUNCIL has received a prestigious award in recognition of the commitment being made to those employees who have served in the armed forces.
Dorset Council has received the Armed Forces Covenant Silver Award as part of an employer recognition scheme launched by the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
More than 80 armed forces personnel past and present or family members are employed by Dorset Council.
Im 2019, the local authority signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant, which recognises that the nation has a moral obligation to members of the armed forces and their families, alongside BCP Council and Dorset Police as part of a pledge to ensure those who serve or have served in the armed forces are treated with fairness and respect in the community.
The award will be presented at a ceremony on October 12.
Councillor David Walsh, armed forces champion for Dorset Council, said: "We're proud to receive the MOD's Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award.
"Through out commitment to deliver the Armed Forces Covenant locally, this commendation demonstrates our support for over 80 armed forces colleagues including reservists, veterans and their families, and cadet force adult volunteers.
"Their skills and experience help Dorset Council deliver services to residents and this has been more important than ever over the past 18 months as we faced new and fast-changing challenges through the pandemic."
In its day-to-day operations, the council has a range of policies to support former armed forces personnel including up to ten days paid leave each year for reserve forces training, support for employees who are a partner of spouse of a reservist who is called up, and the continuation of pension build-up for reservists who are members of the local government pension scheme who are called up for service.
Cllr Walsh added: "Moving forward, the council will work closely with these colleagues to help us develop an environment that harnesses the expertise they bring to us and builds on what we can do for them."
For more information on Dorset Council's involvement with the Armed Forces Covenant programme, visit www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-community/armed-forces-covenant/the-armed-forces-covenant
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