Croydon Council has reaffirmed its commitment to serving personnel, veterans, and their families by signing the Armed Forces Covenant on Armistice Day.
Conservative Mayor of Croydon Jason Perry signed the covenant on behalf of the Council, alongside Major Andy Church from the Ministry of Defence, at a ceremony in Braithwaite Hall. The event was attended by Civic Mayor Councillor Richard Chatterjee, Deputy Lieutenant of Croydon Colonel Ray Wilkinson, community leaders, members of the Armed Forces family, and local schoolchildren.
The covenant is a pledge recognising the service and sacrifices of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families, including those who have been bereaved. It ensures they are treated with fairness and dignity in the communities they serve.
The agreement aims to help members of the Armed Forces community access public and commercial services on an equal footing with other citizens, covering vital areas such as healthcare, childcare, housing, and employment. Mayor Perry also announced a new £50,000 fund to support veterans re-entering the workforce.
Croydon Council joins a growing number of organisations, including national Government bodies, the NHS, schools, and charities, committed to supporting the Armed Forces community.
“Signing the Armed Forces Covenant on Armistice Day is a deeply proud and meaningful moment – when we pause to remember the sacrifices of those who have served.
“Our Armed Forces deserve more than our gratitude – they deserve the chance to thrive here in Croydon; in the community they helped to protect.
“This covenant is a living promise. It ensures those who serve, and the families who stand behind them, are treated with fairness, dignity and respect every day of the year.
“Croydon stands proudly alongside our Armed Forces community, having been the first London Borough to sign the covenant in 2011. It reaffirms our commitment to helping those who have given so much service to our country access the services and opportunities they deserve.”\
- Jason Perry, Conservative Mayor of Croydon
