WORK to help members of the Armed Forces adjust to civilian life has been recognised with an award.

Darlington Borough Council produced a directory with information for veterans and serving soldiers on support available to them locally.

It has now been recognised with a Silver Employer Recognition award by the Regional Commands of the Ministry of Defence.

The award is to publicly recognise the support employers and organisations offer to members of the Armed Forces’ community.

The directory includes practical information on moving schools, mortgage deals and renting housing alongside pension support and healthcare for the injured. It also has information on employment support when leaving the Armed Forces.

The Council is currently putting in place a new policy for employing reservists as well as promoting the benefits to other businesses in Darlington.

Councillor Veronica Copeland is the Veterans’ Champion for Darlington and recently proposed a motion to add weight to The Royal British Legion’s ‘Count Them In’ campaign for the 2021 census. The motion was passed unanimously by full Council on July 21.

The campaign calls for extra questions to be included in the 2021 censu to incorporate data on the Armed Forces community.

Councillor Copeland, who is also the Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Housing, said: “With a large Armed Forces population on our doorstep we felt it was essential to have as much support as possible available to help veterans make a fresh and untroubled start to civilian life.”