Bury raises the flag and reinforces commitment to veterans during Armed Forces Week

As a proud Fusilier town Bury is showing its support and commitment to veterans and serving armed forces personnel during Armed Forces Week (24-29 June).

In 2023 Bury Council was awarded a gold award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

The highest level achievable, the award is in recognition of the council signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant and demonstrating its commitment to supporting military veterans and reservists in society and in employment with the council.

This included recognising military veterans as a protected characteristic and giving this group the same attention and protections that we would for all protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010

The council provides a range of support and promotes support available elsewhere:

• Employment and skills support for the Armed Forces community - support available to assist the Armed Forces community with employment, and information about how to get adult education or training:
• Health and wellbeing support for armed forces personnel – the NHS, council and partners actively look at the health needs of veterans and serving members of the armed forces
• Housing for armed forces personnel – veterans, serving members of the armed forces and their families are given preference on the housing register
• Schools and education for armed forces families - for returning personnel, we will allocate a place in advance of the family arriving in the area

There’s further help available for individual members of the armed forces and veterans who are struggling with the cost of living on the council’s website at: Let's manage tough times - Bury Council

There’s also free membership of our leisure centres for serving military personnel and veterans https://buryleisure.bury.gov.uk/memberships/military-and-veteran-membership