Employment charity Tomorrow’s People has signed the Armed Forces Covenant at Bootle Army Reserve Centre, Merseyside, with 156 Regt RLC.
The Covenant is the first step towards the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Awards, encouraging employers to support Defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses Bronze, Silver and Gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to Defence and the Armed Forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
Tomorrow’s People CEO Martin Brookes with Col Dave Ashman, CO 156 Regt RLC
Tomorrow’s People and Army Reserve unit 156 Regiment RLC will be working together in Liverpool to ensure local young people are aware of the part-time paid employment opportunities that the Army Reserve has to offer. They will also be opening up the Regiment’s civilian business partners offering training and/or full-time employment.
Tomorrow’s People CEO, Martin Brookes, met with Colonel Dave Ashman, Commanding Officer 156 Regt RLC, to gain an overview of the Regiment and what the Regiment provides to Defence capability, as well as getting a tour around the Supply Training facility in Bootle.
Tomorrow’s People is an employment charity that supports young people and adults who are struggling to get into work. Their programmes ensure participants develop the skills, self-belief and resilience they need to get and keep a job. This is achieved by tailoring support to the individual, through practical programmes that successfully prepare people for the workplace.
Eddy Mullin, Tomorrow’s People Adviser for Working Futures in Liverpool, said: “Tomorrow’s People has a clear mission to support those who have become detached from the world of work, and who face apparently overwhelming barriers to getting a job. We believe in the potential of individuals to find work and draw on more than 30 years of expertise on the frontline.
“We are always looking for local partners who can help to open up new opportunities and networks to those we work with. There is potential for us to do great things with the Armed Forces Covenant to ensure young people in the area know what their options are.”
Col Dave Ashman said: “I’m extremely pleased to see an organisation like Tomorrow’s People formalise its commitment to the Armed Forces by signing the Armed Forces Covenant. Tomorrow’s People already do so much good work in the communities local to our units, and I look forward to strengthening that relationship with mutual support and opportunity.
The Army Reserve has much to offer for those seeking to gain skills, qualifications and invaluable experience – all transferable to civilian employment – and, in turn, Tomorrows People have much to offer to our Reservists and former servicemen and women making the transition back to civilian life.”
Lt Col Steve Wotherspoon, Regional Employer Engagement Director MOD, said: “Tomorrow’s People in partnership with 156 Regt RLC and the North West of England and the Isle of Man Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (NW RFCA), are committed to ensuring we offer the best possible support to our Armed Forces family in the region. The Armed Forces Covenant sets out the relationship between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces. It recognises that the whole nation has a moral obligation to members of the Armed Forces family, and it establishes how they should be treated. Tomorrow’s People, by signing up to the Covenant, are providing a voluntary pledge of mutual support between their organisation and the Armed Forces, for which we are most grateful.”
For more information about the Armed Forces Covenant visit https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/armed-forces-covenant-supporting-information
