Supporting community covenants

Halesowen & Rowley Regis MP James Morris has added his support to the Royal British Legion’s campaign for Community Covenants.

Launched by the Government in 2011 following a successful campaign by the Legion, the Community Covenant scheme is helping to transform the relationship between local communities and serving and reservist Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families, for the benefit of both communities.

Both Dudley and Sandwell Council have recently signed Community Covenants and nearly 100 local authorities are either preparing Covenants or have already signed them.

Now that they have drawn up Community Covenants, Dudley and Sandwell be able to access a £30M Government funding stream for local projects that strengthen ties or mutual understanding between the Armed Forces Community and the wider community.

Supporting the Royal British Legion’s campaign, Mr Morris said:

“I am very proud that the work of Halesowen ex-servicemen David Herbert led to Dudley Council becoming one of the first councils in the country to draw up a Veterans’ Charter last autumn, setting out extra support for people who have served in the Armed Forces.

“I am delighted that Dudley and Sandwell have both now committed to the Community Covenants, which will develop this further and allow the Councils to bid for extra money for relevant local projects.

“We should never forget the tremendous debt that we owe to our servicemen and women who make unimaginable sacrifices on a daily basis, on our behalf.”