North Somerset's commitment to supporting its armed forces community has been solidified with a newly signed Armed Forces Covenant.

A decade after the original covenant was signed, the new agreement seeks to reinvigorate and evolve earlier pledges.

The recent covenant guarantees that North Somerset Council will fulfil its responsibilities in addressing the needs of both serving and former armed forces personnel in matters related to housing, education, and health.

Councillor Catherine Gibbons, the council's representative on the South West Armed Forces Covenant Partnership, said: "The signing of the updated covenant means that the circumstances of members of the armed forces community will be considered more fairly.

"And in some cases, for those who have suffered the most, through injury or bereavement, we may consider taking actions that go beyond the support usually provided to reduce or remove disadvantage.

"We will continue to strive to do our best to support the armed forces community in our area, and encourage our partners to do the same."

North Somerset Times: A decade after the original covenant was signed

Echoing her sentiments was councillor Stuart Davies, armed forces champion for North Somerset Council.

He said: "This is great news for armed forces personnel and their families living in North Somerset.

"They do so much to serve our country, it’s only right that we have measures in place to make sure they’re not disadvantaged during civilian life."

The updated covenant was formally signed on December 4, at 4.05pm, at the Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare by Jo Walker, chief executive of North Somerset Council, and colonel John Cummings, assistant commander, Army Headquarters South West.

Numerous partnership organisations and representatives from the armed forces and civic communities were present during the signing.

Jon Beake, regional employer engagement director at the Ministry of Defence, said: "It’s fantastic that North Somerset Council joins over 1,100 organisations across the South West that have pledged their support by adopting their own Armed Forces Covenants.

"It’s been a pleasure tailoring the pledges with them to make them relevant and mutually beneficial.

"It was also great that they chose to sign in their council chambers with quite an audience to witness it."

The updated covenant can be accessed on the council's website.

Organisations interested in pledging their support to the Armed Forces community have been encouraged to contact Jon Beake on his official email: wx-reed@rfca.mod.uk.