The city has signed up to the Armed Forces Community Covenant, a pledge of mutual support between the city and its Armed Forces community, and special webpages at Type=articles;Articleid=4568;Title=Help for the Armed Forces community; have now been launched to both highlight the help available locally to members of the Armed Forces community and veterans.
The Armed Forces Community Covenant calls on local people to support the Armed Forces community in the city, recognise and remember the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces over the years and encourage activities that help members of the Armed Forces to integrate into local life.
It also encourages members of the Armed Forces to help and support the wider community, and promote understanding and awareness among the public of some of the issues faced by former members of the Armed Forces as they return to civilian life.
Through the Armed Forces Community Covenant Grant Scheme, it also makes grants of up to £250,000 available to any section of the community, including voluntary groups, charities and public bodies such as schools which want to stage special events or complete projects that support the Armed Forces in some way.
Community covenants like the one signed in Wolverhampton complement, at a local level, the national Armed Forces Covenant, which outlines the moral obligation between the nation, the government and the armed forces.
Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: "I am proud that, by working in partnership, organisations across Wolverhampton are committed to making it easier for the men and women of our Armed Forces to integrate into civilian life here in Wolverhampton.
"Already many people in Wolverhampton show their support for the Armed Forces community, either by supporting charities, turning out in their hundreds to support events such as Armed Forces Day and homecoming parades, or wearing their poppy on Armistice Day.
"All of this has a hugely positive effect on members of our Armed Forces - and by signing the Community Covenant we hope to build on this excellent level of local support.
"This is especially timely as we prepare to remember the hundreds of thousands of members of our Armed Forces who laid down their lives during the First World War, which began 100 years ago next month."
The new webpages explain the Armed Forces Community Covenant, provides information about local support services and will signpost people to details of events in Wolverhampton marking the anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.
It also includes details about the Armed Forces Community Covenant Grant Scheme, including criteria and an application form.
- released: Thursday 24 July, 2014