Army Celebrates Close Links with Rochdale Borough Council

The Army’s event team were welcomed by Rochdale Borough Council during a Full Council meeting on 24 July where they spoke on the changing face of the Service.

Major Twumasi-Ankrah, known as T-A, of the Household Cavalry, gave a presentation entitled Your Army, which included sections on what the Army is, what is does, how it is changing, how it works with local communities and in particular how it will work with the council.

Lieutenant Colonel Lindsey Forbes, Cavalry, and Corporal Andrew Henry, of the Adjutant General’s Corps, and Regimental Sergeant Major Nathan Paulus from 42 Brigade also attended.

The events team also ran a stall at Number One Riverside on Thursday, 24 JUly,  where they chatted to staff and members of the public.

Councillor Alan McCarthy, lead member for the Armed Forces at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “With less than a fortnight to go until the commemorations of the outbreak of the First World War it was a fitting time to hear how the work of the Army has evolved to face the demands of international relations in the modern world.”

Linda Fisher, acting chief executive of Rochdale Borough Council, who last week was invited to Number 10 Downing Street in recognition of the council's work with the Armed Forces, said: A big thank you to the Army event team for coming to Rochdale borough to engage with the community and for visiting the Council to recognise the work we are doing to support current and former member s of the Armed Forces.”

Rochdale was one of the first councils in the country to sign the Armed Forces Community Covenant last November, aimed at encouraging local communities to support services that promote and encourage activities that help integrate Armed Forces personnel back into civilian life. 

The council signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant in 2012 – a statement of support between a civilian community and its Armed Forces community.  But actions speak much louder, and Rochdale has been nationally recognised by the Ministry of Defence, Royal British Legion and others for introducing pioneering changes to better support armed forces personnel and their families back into civilian life.

For more information visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/armedforces