THE council has underlined its support for the military community by signing the Armed Forces Covenant.

St Helens Borough Council signed the organisational pledge in a special ceremony at St Helens Town Hall, just before Remembrance weekend.

The commitment ensures members of the Armed Forces community are not disadvantaged by their service experience when accessing work and public services.

Councillor Lynn Clarke, the council's Armed Forces champion, signed the covenant at the ceremony.

St Helens Borough Council Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Lynn Clarke signs the Armed Forces Covenant (Image: Supplied) She was joined by representatives from the British Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence, Sea Cadet Corps, cadet groups, Armed Forces community groups, and council staff with Armed Forces status.

Councillor Clarke said: "It is a great honour to sign the Armed Forces covenant on behalf of the council to renew our promise to ensure that those who serve or have served in the British Armed Forces, and their families, are recognised, honoured, and treated fairly with the respect they deserve.

"St Helens borough has such a rich military history which deserves to be celebrated at any opportunity and as Armed Forces champion, I’m proud that the council enjoys such a great working relationship with defence and our local Armed Forces community."

Councillor Keith Laird, St Helens Borough Council's cabinet member for people, performance and IT, said: "As we prepare to pay our respects to the fallen next week on Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, it is a fitting time to acknowledge our commitment to the Armed Forces and to residents and families who have sacrificed so much for King and country.

"We are a council working with you, for you."

Representatives from St Helens Borough Council and the Armed Forces community outside St Helens Town Hall following the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant (Image: Supplied) St Helens Borough Council has been a leader in the St Helens Armed Forces Community Covenant partnership since 2012, regularly demonstrating its commitment to the Armed Forces through various initiatives.

These include free and discounted membership offers in council-run leisure centres for past and present Armed Forces members, an annual Armed Forces Day event, and a Remembrance Sunday service.

Last year, the council awarded the Freedom of the Borough to the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, the borough’s local regular army regiment in the North West.

With the Armed Forces Covenant now signed, St Helens Borough Council is working towards retaining its ‘Gold’ status as an outstanding employer of reservists, cadet force, adult volunteers, and service people under the Ministry of Defence's Employer Recognition Scheme.