Ipswich is proud of the way it supports those from this town who have joined the Armed Forces, both those still serving and those from the veteran community. My fellow councillor Alasdair Ross served over twenty years in the army, and is a passionate and committed supporter of the military and veterans. With that background, he is an ideal Armed Forces Champion at Ipswich Borough Council (IBC).
It is a priority for us to support those who are not originally from Ipswich but have this town as their home whilst they still serve as members of the Army Air Corps in Wattisham or the Royal Engineers in Woodbridge.
However, we must not forget those who are members of the Reserve Forces, who give up their weekends and holidays to support the Regular Forces, joining them both on operations in the UK and overseas.
Councillor Ross is proud to lead, and commit, IBC in following the Armed Forces Covenant. This is a promise that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, including the bereaved, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy, and society they serve with their lives.
Through signing the Armed Forces Covenant, the council pledged to uphold its key principles and commitment to members of the Armed Forces community, as well as with raising awareness of the challenges faced by military personnel and their families in Ipswich and other parts of Suffolk.
Its two principles recognise the unique obligations of, and sacrifices made by, the Armed Forces:
- Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.
- Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given the most, such as the injured personnel and the bereaved families.
IBC were honoured to recently receive the Silver Award from the Ministry of Defence through the Employer Recognition scheme (ERS), recognising its strong and ongoing commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community.
The Silver Award honours employers that actively demonstrate their pledges through the Armed Forces Covenant, already hold an ERS Bronze Award, and implement policies that support reservists, veterans, cadet force adult volunteers, and military families.
We are proud to receive this recognition from the Ministry of Defence. IBC is committed to ensuring that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces are treated with fairness and respect, both in the workplace and in our wider community.
This award represents not just recognition of our past efforts, but our continued dedication to be an Armed Forces-friendly organisation, both as an employer and public service provider. It recognises that IBC meaningfully supports and advocates for those who have served, those who continue to serve, and their families.
Ipswich Borough Council joins a select group of employers across the UK recognised for their leadership in championing Armed Forces-friendly workplaces.
A number of our employees are also members of the Reserve Forces and we ensure that they get the time off they need to carry out their roles. Ipswich also benefits as in return we get employees who are highly committed, well trained and put serving others before themselves.
In this week of Remembrance, it seems fitting to restate that we will continue to strengthen our efforts to ensure our services are accessible and inclusive. Something that we can reflect on with pride on Remembrance Sunday.
Neil MacDonald is Labour leader of Ipswich Borough Council.
Share