Chorley Council awarded gold standard in Armed Forces Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

The award signifies the due regard, recognition and support that Chorley Council holds for those in the Armed Forces.

Chorley Council has been accredited with the Defence ERS Gold Award for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

In June 2020, Chorley Council retained the Armed Forces ERS Silver Award which has now been increased to gold following the ongoing commitment shown to support those in the Armed Forces community.

Chorley Council offer additional welfare support within the community whilst having three elected members, who are veterans, that have served previously in the Armed Forces. One of which being the Council’s Armed Forces Champion, who regularly collaborates with the Armed Forces Covenant Support Officer, to ensure understanding of the Armed Forces Covenant and its duty, are embedded within the authority.

Councillor Bev Murray, Executive Member for Early Intervention, at Chorley Council, said: “As an authority we are honoured to have received the Armed Forces Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

“We are pleased to continue to support the Armed Forces Covenant and those that have served in the Armed Forces and continue to do so”.

A large proportion of Chorley Council frontline staff have received Armed Forces Covenant training and are equipped to deal with issues when they arise.

Whilst offering health and wellbeing support to those who have served in the Armed Forces the Council have also worked in partnership with the Royal British Legion, and supported veterans with adaptations to their homes.

Veterans are guaranteed a job interview at the Council if they meet the requirements and the Council is also signed up to the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and Forces Families Jobs (FFJ) to help this process.

As a borough, Chorley is proud of its long history and affiliation with the Armed Forces and to this day, its residents continue to engage with a variety of community projects that have a connection to the Armed Forces, both past and present.  Some of these are coordinated by and are supported by the council, such as parades, remembrance events and the raising of the Armed Forces Day flag at the Town Hall, during Armed Forces Week.

Chorley Council support the Army, the Reservist’s Army, Navy and Air Cadets, and the Motivational Preparation College for Military Training (MPTC) at the Army Reserve Centre in Chorley.

Once officially received, the award will be displayed in either the Town Hall or Union Street Council offices.