Rochdale Borough Council has been presented with a gold award by a Heywood-based veterans’ charity for its outstanding work to support the armed forces community.
Veterans into Logistics handed over the top award to council leader Neil Emmott and Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Janet Emsley, following a flag raising ceremony at Rochdale Town Hall to mark Armed Forces Day.
Veterans into Logistics was founded in 2020 and provides training and mentoring for ex-forces personnel who require assistance in gaining heavy good vehicles (HGV) licences and support in to paid employment. In the last 5 years, the charity has supported over 900 veterans in to work, including around 100 from the borough of Rochdale.
The council’s backing for the charity was underlined in 2022 when it provided land for a Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency approved reversing site at Bowlee in Middleton. The facility enables veteran learner drivers to practice their HGV skills and has already helped over 300 to qualify as drivers. The space speeds up the process of veterans obtaining their HGV licence, to help gain employment in logistics.
Councillor Emmott said:
“Veterans into Logistics do fantastic work to support ex-armed forces personnel in to paid employment and our support for the charity is unwavering. We are extremely honoured to receive this award, underlining our commitment to members of the armed forces past and present. When former members of the forces return to civvy street, it’s vital that support mechanisms are in place to provide routes in to paid work. I am extremely proud the charity is based in our borough. I know from speaking to residents in my West Middleton ward just how much respect and admiration there is for the council’s outstanding work, in partnership with organisations like Veterans into Logistics, to support the armed forces community.”
Councillor Emsley said:
“It was fitting to receive this gold award on Armed Forces Day, when we come together to say thanks to army personnel past and present for their work to protect us and keep us safe. As a council, we have supported and worked alongside Veterans into Logistics from day one. They really are a pioneering charity that transform the lives of veterans and provide them a purpose and a pathway into new careers, underlined by over 900 men and women finding new employment since 2020. A huge congratulations to everyone involved.”
Founder of Veterans into Logistics, Darren Wright, said:
“It was a special moment thanking Rochdale Borough Council for everything they do with a gold award, on an emotional and poignant Armed Forces Day. Rochdale is our home council and has provided so much support since day one, including the fantastic facility at Bowlee to train HGV drivers. I am so proud of our rock solid working relationship with the council who show tremendous allegiance to supporting the armed forces community and, together, we celebrate commitment to our veterans. This award is about saying a huge thanks to the council for standing to shoulder with us from day one.”
- View more on the council’s support for the armed forces community
- View more about Veterans into Logistics
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