COUNCILS from across the region have met to discuss the support available for members of the armed forces community.

Wiltshire Council joined seven other local authorities to be updated on the South West Armed Forces Covenant Project and discuss its support for the military community.

The councils are working together in partnership to improve the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant, to raise awareness and promote understanding to benefit military communities.

More than 130 representatives from the Ministry of Defence, charities and local government met at the first South West Regional Armed Forces Covenant Champions Conference at the Garrison Theatre, Tidworth.

The local authorities won £190,000 Government funding in 2016 for a range of measures and received an extra £150,000 this spring to fund veterans’ outreach, which will incorporate a mobile outreach vehicle developed for next year.

Baroness Scott, leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “This has been a very good conference. It gave everyone a chance to catch up on what is happening across the region, and also to have the time to network and talk about how the region can deliver the Armed Forces Covenant better.”

Mark Collins, assistant director of Veterans’ Gateway who spoke at the conference, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for greater awareness and it’s also about showing collaboration and our general passion and support for the Armed Forces community.”