» The Armed Forces
Brighton and Hove City Council leader Mary Mears salutes the armed forces
Last week I took part in a promotion for the Council’s Armed Forces Day and our new Heroes Welcome scheme at Sussex County Cricket Club. Heroes Welcome is a national scheme which allows businesses and other organisations to sign up and show their appreciation and thanks to the British armed forces by offering serving servicemen and women discounts, service upgrades or some other form of special acknowledgement. We are co-ordinating a local Brighton and Hove scheme and, even at this early stage, we already have in the region of 25 businesses who have signed up. If anyone is interested in supporting Heroes Welcome then please see www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/heroeswelcome.
I think it is vitally important that as a nation we properly look after the men and women who put their lives on the line for us. I am always shocked by the statistics which show how many veterans are homeless, living rough or have serious drug and alcohol addiction problems. As a Council, I want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to help them.
Therefore, I was delighted to see in the new Coalition Government’s policy document that there is a firm commitment to rebuild and strengthen the Military Covenant. It includes welcome measures such as providing scholarships for the children of servicemen and women killed on duty and extra support for veterans suffering from mental health problems.
On a not unrelated matter, following a request from a member of the public, I have agreed that the Council should fly the Red Ensign flag of the British Merchant Navy on Merchant Seaman’s Day (3 September). I think that this will be very fitting for our city by the sea!
Finally, just a quick plug for the new Encyclopaedia of Brighton which, due to popular demand, has been fully revised and updated. So much has changed in the two decades years since the encyclopaedia was first published and I, for one, shall be reading it with great interest! You can buy the new Encyclopaedia from 14 June from local bookshops, libraries and www.brighton-hove.gov.uk
