Tendring District Council

Veteran

Anyone can get involved in the Armed Forces Covenant - find out how Tendring District Council are supporting our Armed Forces community, and how you can get involved.

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Meet the team

Welcome from Cllr Dan Casey, Armed Forces Champion

I am hugely honoured to have been named as Tendring District Council’s Armed Forces Champion, having served both in the Merchant Navy, and subsequently in the Grenadier Guards for my National Service.

The welfare of those currently serving, and of veterans, is of real importance to me, particularly given the problem of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and is something I have tried to champion in my role as President of the Clacton Branch of the Royal British Legion – a position I have held for around a decade now.

Tendring District Council is here to support you and your family if you are currently serving or have previously served in the Armed Forces. If you need any advice on issues including health, education, housing, financial and employment needs, we will be here to help.

I am particularly pleased with the way Tendring District Council takes pride in and supports the Armed Forces Covenant, and holds the Gold Defence Employers Recognition Scheme award – this reflects not only our own approach to supporting military personnel, veterans and their families, but also the advocacy role we play in encouraging other organisations to do the same.

Meet the Team

Our Armed Forces Champion is Cllr Dan Casey (Member Champion).

Email: cllr.dcasey@tendringdc.gov.uk

Our officer contact is Karen Hardes, HR Advisor

Email: khardes@tendringdc.gov.uk

Our civic events contact is Madeline Adger, Leadership Support Manager

Email: madger@tendringdc.gov.uk

Essex Civil Military Partnership Board

Following the signing of the Essex Armed Forces Covenant on 6 November 2012, the Essex Civilian Military Partnership Board was established to fulfil the undertakings agreed under the Covenant, to tangibly improve the lives of all.

Tendring District Council is represented on this Board, along with public, private and voluntary sector partners to look at Essex-wide activities relating to the Armed Forces.

The Civilian Military Partnership Board is currently engaged in a comprehensive programme of work, focusing on:

Housing
Health and Wellbeing
Education
Employment and Skills
Promoting Integration

What are we doing locally for the Armed Forces Community?

Encouraging local communities to support you and your involvement in the wider community
Encouraging activities, joint events and projects which help to integrate you into local life
Nurturing an understanding and awareness of issues affecting you and recognising sacrifices made by the Armed Forces
Training our staff and implementing appropriate policies to support you
Understanding your needs while developing services
Providing employment and training opportunities
Raising awareness of the challenges you face
Raising your awareness of what support is available to you
Understanding and supporting veterans

The Essex and Suffolk Military Herald is a useful publication that provides local Armed Forces related news and information.

Armed Forces Events

What's on in Tendring

Armed Forces Day – Last Saturday in June

Since 2009, Armed Forces Day has been marked annually with events large and small throughout the UK. In support of this event, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is providing funding to help organisations and individuals in the UK host an Armed Forces Day event.

www.armedforcesday.org.uk/get-involved/organise-your-own-event/apply-for-funding/

Events could include Armed Forces Day tea parties, parades, big band concerts and civil war military re-enactments. Local councils, organisations, schools, ex-service organisations and individuals in the UK are eligible to apply for funding. The event should be held on or in the weeks around National Armed Forces Day.

#SaluteOurForces is a simple way for anyone to pay tribute to the British Armed Forces community for their hard work, dedication and efforts to and keep us safe in the UK and across the globe. To join in, simply send us a photo or video of yourself or your friends and colleagues saluting!

https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/get-involved/saluteourforces/

Reserves Day

Reservists give up their spare time to serve in the Reserve Forces, balancing their civilian life with a military career to ensure that should their country require them, they would be ready to serve as part of the military. Reserves Day was created to highlight and recognise the valuable contribution Reservists make to our Armed Forces. On Reserves Day, our Reservists wear their uniform in their civilian life.

Regular Events

Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club

Meeting every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month
Charnellies Restaurant and Bar, 1-5 Pier Avenue, CO15 1QB
Contact: Mike Henderson 07875345104 or Debs Everson 07837 778010 Email: afvbcclacton@gmail.com
Website: https://www.afvbc.net/clubs/clacton-on-sea/

Clacton Veterans Breakfast Club

Meet every 1st Tuesday of the month for Breakfast
Meet occasional Saturdays for lunch, as per annual event list
St Johns Community Hall, Great Clacton.
Contact: David Bye 07960 052590 Email: clactonveteransbreakfastclub@gmail.com

Civic Events

Each year we host various events with participation and assistance from the Garrison and local veterans:

April

St George's Day Church Service

May

VE Day - Service at Clacton War Memorial

June

Falklands Anniversary - Service at Clacton War Memorial

Armed Forces Day Flag Raising Ceremony at the Town Hall

Armed Forces day

July

Veterans Tea Dance - Afternoon of music, dancing and a buffet

August

VJ Day - Service at Clacton War Memorial

September

Merchant Navy Day - Service outside Town Hall

November

Remembrance Sunday Service and Parade (nearest Sunday to 11 November).

Parade from Clacton Town Hall at 10.25 am, salute taken by Chairman and dignitaries. March to seafront gardens for service at 11.00 am.

Remembrance Sunday service

Can I get covenant funding?

Find out about applying to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund to support our local Armed Forces Community

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund commits £10 million each year to support the Armed Forces Covenant by making grants for projects that contribute towards integration, greater wellbeing, and social support for serving Armed Forces personnel, their families, veterans and the communities where they live.

The priority areas for grant applications are varied but are for supporting the delivery of the Covenant and funding projects which strengthen the relationships between the Armed Forces community and the civilian community.

The Covenant Fund grants team have collated case studies on small and large grants that have been awarded by the team. These examples provide an insight into how the Covenant Fund works and how grants can be used for a variety of projects. Click on the link to find out more.

How to apply

Applicants must apply using the MOD grant application form: Criteria and Application Forms

Is your business Forces Friendly?

Forces friendly information for businesses There are many ways businesses, charitable and public sector organisations can support the Armed Forces Community, including:

Signing the Covenant for Business
Promote offers/discounts to Armed Forces Community – Defence Discount Service
Be a Forces Friendly Employer

Covenant for Business

Signing the Covenant for Business means that you are supporting your employees as Reservists and Veterans.

Employers can choose specific promises or pledges to support their employees within the Armed Forces community.

The Covenant should be signed by someone in authority who will make sure that these promises are implemented, this could be the CEO or HR Director. It could also be co-signed by a member of the Armed Forces.

For example, you can pledge to:

promote the fact you are an armed forces-friendly organisation
support the employment of veterans and service leavers
offer flexibility in leave for service spouses/partners before, during and after deployment
support reservist employees, allowing leave for training and deployment
offer discount to members of the armed forces community

If you are interested and wish to find out more please contact:

Kristina Carrington, Regional Employer Engagement Director, Reserve Forces and Cadets Association ea-empsp@rfca.mod.uk

The Defence Discount Service

The Defence Discount Service is the only official discount service for the Armed Forces. If you currently offer discounts for members of the Armed Forces community, or would like to, you can promote this for free on their website.

To sign up to the Defence Discount Service, please ‘Add Your Business’ on the Defence Discount Service website or by emailing corporate@defencediscountservice.co.uk.

If you are a member of the Armed Forces community you are eligible for a Defence Privilege Card, at a cost of less than £1.00 a year. Visit the Defence Discount Service website to find out how you can start saving now on high street and online purchases.

Forces Friendly Employer

Reservists and veterans bring a variety of transferable skills and qualities to the civilian workplace, developed throughout their military careers. Being flexible to the unique situations of the wider Armed Forces community ensures fair treatment to all who are involved, including the spouses and partners, and cadet force adult volunteers.

Organisations can work with Career Transition Partnership’s (CTP) recruitment service to find quality applicants for apprenticeships, full time and vocational work opportunities. CTP provide a personalised service to employers, regardless of size throughout the UK and overseas to understand your skills gaps and employment requirements.

The Officers Association is able to work with employers to assist in finding ideal candidates. At no-cost to employers you can promote job opportunities on their Executive Jobs Board. To find out more about the support with recruitment available, please visit : www.officersassociation.org.uk/careers/oa-jobs-board/

The Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) acknowledges employers who have provided exceptional support to the Armed Forces community and Defence by going above and beyond their covenant pledges. Through a 3 tier approach of bronze, silver and gold awards, the scheme recognises the different levels of commitment provided by employers. This allows the Ministry of Defence to publicly thank and honour those organisation for their support.

Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Logo Tendring District Council is holder of the Gold Award.

Further help and advice for employers is available from Defence Relationship Management (DRM).