Councillors have voted to strengthen the council’s commitment to the Armed Forces community, building on our existing pledge under the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Covenant, signed by the council in 2011, sets out our commitment to support serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and their families in Devon.
We achieved the Silver Award in the Employers Recognition Scheme in August 2020, demonstrating our commitment to fair recruitment and support for reservists and cadet force volunteers.
According to the 2021 Census, around 49,000 people in Devon identified as UK Armed Forces veterans, representing 5.1 per cent of the population aged 16 and over, well above the national average of 3.8 per cent.
“Their presence is woven into the very fabric of our county,” Councillor Andrea Davis told fellow councillors at a meeting of our Full Council this week.
Councillors unanimously supported a Notice of Motion brought by Councillor Davis, requesting that the council:
- Strives for the Gold Award in the Employers Recognition Scheme, which includes offering additional leave for Cadet Force leaders to support their training commitments
- Re-establishes a dedicated Armed Forces Covenant group for staff and elected members who are serving, veterans, or close family members, providing a confidential space for peer support and advice on best practice
- Considers recognising service in the Armed Forces as a protected characteristic under the Public Sector Equality Act, mirroring recent steps taken for care leavers
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