Councils sign up for share of £30m windfall (From Halesowen News)

Councils sign up for share of £30m windfall

11:41am Wednesday 11th July 2012 in Local

DUDLEY and Sandwell councils have signed up to an agreement that gives them access to a £30 million Government fund for projects that strengthen ties or understanding between members of the Armed Forces and the rest of the community.

They are among nearly 100 local authorities signing up to the Community Covenant scheme designed to transform the relationship between communities and serving and reservist military personnel, veterans and their families.

The covenant campaign has been spearheaded by the Royal British Legion and supported by Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris.

He said: “I am very proud that the work of Halesowen ex-servicemen David Herbert led to Dudley Council becoming one of the first councils in the country to draw up a Veterans’ Charter last autumn, setting out extra support for people who have served in the Armed Forces.

“I am delighted that Dudley and Sandwell have both now committed to the Community Covenants, which will develop this further and allow the councils to bid for extra money for relevant local projects.

“We should never forget the tremendous debt that we owe to our servicemen and women who make unimaginable sacrifices on a daily basis, on our behalf.”