The Council's public pledge to the Armed Forces

Wandsworth Council has long been a committed supporter of the nation’s Armed Forces and the local Armed Forces community. In recent years, this commitment has included the following milestones:

2023

In October 2023, Wandsworth Council applied to the Ministry of Defence to renew its Defence Employer Scheme Gold Award for the armed forces. The Gold Award represents the highest badge of honour to those employers who have made a long-term commitment to the armed forces and employ and support those who serve, veterans and their families. 

After a successful review of our full employer offer for the armed forces, London Borough of Wandsworth’s Gold Award was renewed for another five years.

2018

In August 2018, the Ministry of Defence awarded Wandsworth Council the Defence Employer Scheme Gold Award. The Gold Award represents the highest badge of honour to those employers who have made a long-term commitment to the armed forces and employ and support those who serve, veterans and their families.

2012 

The Armed Forces Community Covenant was adopted by Wandsworth Council in June. This is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces Community and is intended to complement the Armed Forces Covenant.

The general aim of the Community Covenant is to encourage local support for the Armed Forces community in the borough of Wandsworth and to increase understanding of that community by the general public. It encourages all parties within a community to offer support to the local Armed Forces community and to make it easier for Service personnel, families and veterans to access the help and support of the Ministry of Defence, from other statutory providers and from the charitable and voluntary sectors. The Covenant is intended to be a two-way process in which the Armed Forces community is encouraged to do as much as it can to support the local community and to promote activity which integrates the Service community into civilian life.

2011

The national government introduced the Armed Forces Covenant which outlines the moral obligation between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces, at the local level.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly. The covenant is a national responsibility involving government, businesses, local authorities, charities and the public. Wandsworth Council was among the first local authorities to support the Covenant.

2009

The Council agreed to support the introduction of the National Armed Forces Day event, the first being in Battersea Park in June of that year.

2007

In November, Wandsworth Council made a formal and public Pledge of Support, as an employer, for Britain’s Armed Forces reservists.

It states:

Thousands of members of the Reserve Forces (the Army Reserve, Royal Naval Reserves, Royal Marine Reserves and Royal Auxiliary Air Force) have been mobilised for full-time service overseas in recent years. When called upon, these men and women serve alongside their colleagues in the Regular Forces with courage and dedication and often at considerable personal sacrifice. We admire their commitment and are determined to support all current and future employees in the Reserve Forces.