Lisburn & Castlereagh Ulster Unionists have welcomed the Council’s decision on Tuesday evening to adopt an Armed Forces Community Covenant.    

Alderman Michael Henderson said;

“In April of this year my Party colleague Councillor Doug Beattie MC brought an identical motion before the Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, and I decided to play my part in bringing a motion before Lisburn City and Castlereagh. 

“The Lisburn and Castlereagh areas have a long and proud tradition of supporting the Armed Forces community. In addition to the welcome presence of Thiepval barracks in Lisburn, we have many hundreds of our citizens who have proudly served in the Armed Forces.   

“The Armed Forces Covenant was issued by the UK Government in 2011 and represents a moral obligation between the Nation, the UK Government and all those who have served or serve in the Armed Forces and their families. 

“Its primary application is to ensure nobody is disadvantaged through their service and does not give special or privileged treatment.

“Community Covenants complement the Armed Forces Covenant at a local level. The aim of the community covenant is to encourage local communities to support the armed forces community within their area and promote understanding and awareness amongst the public of issues affecting the armed forces community.

“Signing up to the community covenant gives access to millions of pounds of funding each year as part of the Community Covenant Grant Scheme.

“The Ulster Unionist Party strongly supports our service community having access to all the help and support possible, and we are particularly concerned that those who require assistance with regard to their mental health and well-being are not ignored. I trust that the decision of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Borough Council to support the Armed Forces Community Covenant will help ease the burden for those in our community to whom we owe so much.”