Community Engagement

ERS Gold Award winners celebrated

From today, we are joining a national celebration of those employers in our region who have achieved the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold award, the Ministry of Defence’s highest level of recognition for employers who support and advocate for the Armed Forces Community. There will unfortunately not be an awards ceremony this year due to the Covid-19 restrictions, but we still want to…

Reservists mobilised in support of pandemic

In March 2020, everything changed as the Covid-19 pandemic gripped the world, and as the implementation of lockdown measures began, requests for assistance were received daily. Thankfully, the Operations Team at 37th Signal Regiment, amongst others, had prepared for such requests. The Regiment was able to respond quickly, leading to the first team of five Reservists heading to London in late March.  Ths…

Acacia Training is Armed Forces friendly

Trentham-based Acacia Training receives recognition for providing exceptional support to the Armed Forces community and now holds a Bronze award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). The company, which provides apprenticeships and work based training, earned the accolade by demonstrating through it’s culture, policies and procedures that it is ‘forces-friendly’ and is open to employing Reservists, Armed Forces veterans, cadet instructors and…

Covenant Trust supports 100 positive projects in Forces communities during Covid pandemic

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has awarded more than £859,000 to 100 projects focused on bringing our Forces communities together during the Covid-19 pandemic. With various social restrictions still in place across the county, the Trust were keen to support engaging and enjoyable projects that sought to overcome the current challenges we are all facing and deliver activities that bring…

Celebrating the women shaping our region

At the beginning of March West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association linked up with West Midlands Women’s Voice to take part in an event to celebrate the women defining our region. ‘Celebrate the roaring West Midlands’ was a day of inspirational panel discussions and presentations to explore and recognise the diversity and strengths of women’s experience across business, arts, culture and sport,…

Shropshire hospital gets £6 million grant in boost for veteran healthcare

The UK’s first dedicated orthopaedic centre for Armed Forces veterans is to be built in Shropshire – thanks to a remarkable £6 million charitable grant. The centre is to go up at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RJAH), a world-renowned organisation based near Oswestry. The hospital had initially launched a £1.5 million appeal in October 2018 to…

Coventry City Football Club formally sign the Armed Forces Covenant

Coventry City Chief Executive Dave Boddy joined Royal Naval Reserve Commander Phil Sparke on the pitch to sign the Armed Forces Covenant at half time during their club’s match against Portsmouth Football Club. In October 2019, Coventry City FC became only the second major club in the West Midlands to sign the Armed Forces Covenant.  In doing so, they committed written pledges of…

Volunteer scoops award for work with Royal Marines Cadets

A volunteer with the Royal Marines Cadets has picked up an award from his employer in recognition of his voluntary work. Acting Sergeant Dan Bradbury was carrying out an apprentice at KMF Precision Sheet Metal Ltd, based in North Staffordshire. As part of the programme their apprentices take part in an annual community challenge in which they are asked to take part in…