Bolton's pledge to support their armed forces with help

Cllr Ryan Bamforth of Horwich North has asked to make information about armed forces groups, including cadets, regiments and organisations which support veterans, clear on Bolton Council's website.

And asked the council to strive to achieve the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award within a year, which recognises employers that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community.

His motion was passed unanimously at a meeting of the full council.

Cllr Bamforth said: "It is a motion to rewrite the council website for the Armed Forces Covenant. There are no listings for army reserve battery, and it doesn't list any cadet forces. 

Armed Forces Week being celebrated in Bolton earlier this year (Image: Heidi McGovern)

"On this webpage we would hopefully put on details for five different cadet forces. We are also looking at getting listed where we have the charity organisations who help veterans in the borough."

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr John Walsh of Astley Bridge said: "The Bolton United Services Veteran's Association was founded in 1906, well before the Royal British Legion, one of the forerunners in providing mutual support to ex-servicemen. 

"We cannot overstate the importance that we should afford for ex-servicemen. We have for many years in this town honoured and respected their memory and support with events.

"(This) is an opportunity for the public to share in manifestation of Bolton's support for our ex-servicemen and the cadet forces, the future of our armed forces in many instances. 

Representatives of Bolton Armed Forces Centre for Veterans in Victoria Square earlier this year

"We owe a huge debt of gratitude to so many men and women who have served our nation over the years, and it is right that we manifest our support for them with a motion such as this, and I am happy to give it my full support."

Cllr Karen Hon said: "As somebody (with) a family member in the forces, I appreciate the sentiment of this motion very much.

"Also, working in education, I see both ends of this. To see the pride and the sense of belief that it puts into young people who join the cadets, who then go on to join the armed forces, it has always been an amazing journey to be able to watch.

"But what I find quite sad... is that, unfortunately, when these people leave the armed forces... they are not provided with the service that they need, they are not given the support that they need." 

Cllr Ryan Bamforth, who tabled the motion (Image: Ryan Bamforth)

Councillors Martin Donaghy, Neil Maher, and David Grant also voiced their support for the motion before it was passed.

Speaking afterwards, Cllr Bamforth said: "It was lovely to see that, people from across the parties speaking in support of the motion.

"A Policy Development Group (PDG) will now be formed to decide on how to rewrite the webpage. The council does have to do its due diligence when adding charities to such a website, as if we had the wrong charities on there it could do the veterans more harm than good."

Cllr Bamforth said he will give his recommendations to the PDG for the information to be put on the website.