A flag raising ceremony took place on Wednesday 25 September 2024 outside Surrey Heath House in recognition of our Armed Forces.
The flag raising followed a meeting with our military and community partners to review the Council's Armed Forces Covenant Action plan, which details how we support our Armed Forces community in the Borough.
Surrey Heath Borough Council has now also launched a new Armed Forces webpage, offering details of support for regular and reservist personnel, veterans, and their families.
We offer discounted membership at Places Leisure for Armed Forces members and veterans, while our staff receive training to better support this community. Key services like Housing and Benefits also prioritise those in need.
We're also aiming to upgrade from Bronze to Silver in the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme by expanding our employment support and continuing to be a 'Forces Friendly' employer.
The Mayor of Surrey Heath, Councillor Sarbie Kang said: “Surrey Heath is extremely proud of our connections with the Armed Forces which go back over many years.
It is a very great honour to be here with you all today to recognise the important dates of Armed Forces Day and the 80th Anniversary of D-Day and give our thanks to the contribution made by our service personnel to our organisation, our community and our country.”
Major Sim Chochangi from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) also spoke at the flag raising event expressing the importance of the partnership of the RMAS and the Council as the gateway to the RMAS sits within the borough in Camberley and also the ten-year anniversary of the RMAS being granted freedom of the borough.
Canon Peter Bruinvels CC, Surrey County Council Civilian-Military Armed Forces Covenant Lead and Liaison Adviser said, “Surrey Heath Borough Council’s Armed Forces Covenant Action Plan should be considered as an exemplar and I would recommend that all Local Authorities should have a look at it with a view to adopting many of their themes, It goes much further than the requirements under the Armed Forces Act 2021 and the reason for that is that the Council really cares for its Armed Forces Community and want to ensure that they are fully integrated into the local community as equal partners.”
The Mayor of Surrey Heath hosted the ceremony with guests including; Elaine Cosgrave, Jacky Oakley and representatives from the Royal British Legion Camberley, Rod Henkun Bomber Command Association Standard Bearer, Marie Watts, Warrant Officer Class 1, Ian Lamming, Major Sim Chochangi from the RMAS, Local Cadet Corps – DC Trinity Muller, Yorktown Detachment Army Cadets, Debbie Farr Commanding Officer, Sea Cadets, staff from the Frimley & Camberley Cadet Corps, Vicar Pippa Ford – St Michael’s Church/Churches Together, Major Ganesh Gurung, Major (retd) Tek Gurung, Gemma Hinze, Collectively Camberley, Jo Luhman – Head Teacher Kings International, Canon Peter Bruinvels, Brian Jones from SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity.
Access the Council’s Armed Forces Covenant on our website - https://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/community/care-and-support/armed-forces-covenant
Access the Council’s Armed Forces Information page on this link - https://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/community/care-and-support/armed-forces-covenant/information-and-advice