THE VALE of Glamorgan Council has backed a campaign to raise awareness of issues affecting those who serve in the armed forces.

The Vale council held its Armed Forces Covenant meeting last month, which saw serving and veteran armed forces representatives from the Vale of Glamorgan attend.

The council hosts the armed forces covenant meetings every two months and July saw the Royal British Legion’s Count Them In scheme discussed in a question and answer session with the legion's public affairs manager for Wales, Peter Evans.

The scheme aims to increase knowledge about the armed forces population of the UK.

The Royal British Legion stresses that, despite an estimated 10 per cent of the UK population being members of the armed forces community, there’s limited information about where those members live, and what their needs may be.

They say that, by adding questions to the 2021 Census, communities can improve their understanding and ensure that politicians, charities and service providers meet the needs of serving personnel, veterans and their families across the UK.

A recent council meeting – held on July 25 – saw the Vale council approve of the scheme, unanimously supporting the motion.

The council aims to support the scheme by ensuring that the armed forces community will not face disadvantage in the provision of services, and notes that increased statistical data on the Armed Forces community would greatly assist in the planning and provision of services addressing the unique needs of the armed forces community living within the Vale of Glamorgan.

The leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council councillor Neil Moore, described the council as being "proud" of its armed forces community.

He said: "This council is proud to support the armed forces community and endorses the Count Them In campaign which calls on the UK Government to include specific questions relating to this unique community in the next UK Census to help us understand the numbers, locations and needs of members of the armed forces community, thereby allowing us to deliver the best possible services for people who have served their country."

Cllr Anthony Powell, the Vale council’s armed forces champion, attended July’s covenant meeting, and also expressed his pride at the Vale endorsing the scheme.

The next armed forces covenant meeting is scheduled to be held on September 30.

Those interested in attending should contact Mark Petherick on mpetherick@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk