A new armed forces champion for Swindon Borough Council has been appointed.

Coun Lawrence Elliott, who was elected in May for the Chiseldon & Lawn ward, has the job of helping the council make sure its fulfils the pledges it made when signing the Armed Forces Covenant.

That’s an agreement between the armed forces community, the nation and the government which aims to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

It also means that special consideration is appropriate in some cases.

This is especially true for those who have given the most such as the injured or the bereaved. The covenant does not provide any special advantage but it makes sure that members of the armed forces are not disadvantaged in any way and that they receive a fair and consistent service within Swindon.

Coun Elliott said: “It was an honour and privilege to have taken on the role, especially during this very important week. I am delighted that the leader of the council has put his trust in me to not only promote the council’s forces-friendly stance but to nurture public understanding and public awareness of the issues affecting the Armed Forces community and to encourage support for them across the town.

“To all serving and retired military personnel and their families, I would like to express my personal gratitude for the service and the sacrifice that so many of you make”

This year #SaluteOurForces is a simple way for anyone to pay tribute to the British Armed Forces community for their hard work, dedication and efforts to keep us safe in the UK and across the globe. 

Swindon Borough Council leader David Renard added: "We recognise that when people leave the armed forces, they face great challenges - housing is a big one, but they could be across so many other aspects of life that many of us take for granted, with health or educational implications. It is important we look after the people who have given so much to look after us and secure the freedoms that we in this country enjoy.”

As the new armed forces champion, Coun Elliott is looking forward to meeting many serving and ex-service personnel in order to understand their needs and how the town can best help meet them.