Principles met

  • We will embrace innovation in how we work with local communities to drive positive change.
  • In exploring new ways of meeting the priority needs of our communities we will encourage models, such as co-operatives and mutuals, which give greater influence and voice to staff and users. in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.
  • As a membership organisation, we will make this statement of our principles operational by: • Co-operation among members: Our members work together to help each other implement our values, sharing experiences and learning. • Openness of membership: Full, Associate and Affiliate Membership is open to any qualifying Council, organisation or individual who shares our values and is committed to putting them into action. • Co-production of the Network’s work: Members help shape the Network’s work programme and the content of events and written products. • Action-focused: The network is a vehicle for helping councils translate co-operative values and principles into policy and practice. •Membership-based: The network is majority funded by modest membership subscriptions from its member Councils, Associates and Affiliates. •Non-party-political: Members share the belief that working co-operatively within and across communities holds the key to tackling today’s challenges.

Telford & Wrekin Council has a clear and sustained commitment to supporting the Borough’s Armed Forces community, which is embedded strategically, operationally and culturally across the organisation and is delivered with a wide range of local, regional and national partners.

In 2012, the Council was one of the first local authorities in the United Kingdom to sign the Armed Forces Community Covenant. Since that time, significant and sustained progress has been made in delivering on Covenant commitments, supported by the development of a strong, evolving infrastructure.

A key element of this infrastructure is the Armed Forces Covenant Partnership. Through the work undertaken by the Partnership, 163 organisations and businesses within the Borough have now signed the Armed Forces Covenant – one of the highest numbers of signatories in the West Midlands region. The Covenant is a pledge recognising that those who serve, or who have served, in the Armed Forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve.

Since 2019, the Council has delivered an annual Armed Forces Day celebration event for Armed Forces families and residents. The 2025 event marked the culmination of a week of celebrations during which the public was encouraged to show their support and appreciation. The event is delivered in partnership with local and national Armed Forces charities, Covenant signatories, and Defence Industry partners. Attendance at the most recent event was approximately 5,000, demonstrating strong, consistent support from partners and residents.

The Council holds the prestigious Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award, first achieved in 2020 and recently reaccredited for a further five years. This award reflects the Council’s advocacy and leadership in supporting defence people issues across its workforce, partner organisations and service users.

The Christopher Turley Armed Forces Community Hub Opening

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