Promise to Protect Oxfordshire Soldiers

21 June 2011, 05:00 | Updated: 11 October 2011, 10:55

Military families are getting more help with things like health care and education as Oxfordshire County Council becomes the first to sign up to a scheme guaranteeing the welfare of those in the armed forces.

Oxfordshire County Council hopes the Armed Forces Community Covenant will encourage charities, local councils and the health services to work together to make sure military families aren't disadvantaged by their jobs.

A hundred-thousand pounds is also being put aside by the authority for 2011/2012 to help those leaving the service settle in the county and gain skills and employment.

The council's been chosen to be the first because of the work it's already doing supporting the 8,200 members of the armed forces in the county.

Some of the areas soldiers will get help with is schooling for their children, dental and health care and more support for families left behind when members of the armed forces go on tour.

Corporal Russell Armstrong from the 145 Brigade says their lifestyle makes simple things hard to organise. "My children haven't been registered with a NHS dentist for some years now - and as we move around a lot it does prove difficult."

Leader of the council, Councillor Keith Mitchell says "This community covenant is a very positive way of helping us work even more closely and in a more joined up fashion. We hope the other partner organisations and businesses will join us in helping to embrace military and civilian needs in the county."

Hampshire County Council will sign theirs on Thursday ahead of the national Armed Forces Day on Saturday.