12/10/22: MOD issues Gold Award to Breckland Council for armed forces community support

Breckland Council has been awarded an award from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for its efforts to offer high levels of support to members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Leader of Breckland Council, and Maxine O'Mahony, Breckland's Chief Executive, received the award this week from the Ministry of Defence.

Gold status in the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme recognises councils which have put in place considerable support for serving personnel, reservists, veterans, families, cadets, and the wider military community across the district.

Breckland Council's initiatives include signposting armed forces personnel and their families to national and local support groups, 1-2-1 advice to assist with mental health and housing concerns and supporting employment opportunities within local government.

This new award builds on the council's previous success in achieving the silver award, a status it has held since 2017. Breckland Council is one of just a handful of councils in East Anglia to have achieved Gold status.

Cllr Paul Claussen, Breckland's lead member for Armed Forces support, commented: "I am truly delighted to see Breckland Council receiving this gold award, cementing our long and proud tradition of supporting the Armed Forces, their families and retire service personnel across the district. This is a major achievement for Breckland, and I hope raises even more awareness that our local Armed Forces community can contact us in confidence for support when they need it most."

More information on the support Breckland Council and its partners can offer to the Armed Forces community and their families can be found at www.breckland.gov.uk/armed-forces-community