A COVENANT to support past and present members of the armed forces community living in Mole Valley will be signed by officials next week.
The agreement will be signed by representatives of authorities including Mole Valley District Council, the Citizens Advice Bureau and Surrey Police to improve service personnel's "standing in society".
Dignitaries will convene at the Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre on September 6, to sign the Armed Forces Community Covenant.
The Ministry of Defence says the aim of the covenant is to "encourage communities to support the service community in their area and promote understanding and awareness among the public of issues affecting the armed forces community".
Canon Peter Bruinvels, Surrey County Council's civilian and military liaison officer, who helped organise the agreement, said it would "cement" service personnel's position in the community.
"As well as doing that, it will also cement the relationship between the military family that is based in Mole Valley with the wider community of the district," he added. "It will act like a genuine partnership between the army and all the sectors in the district, such as housing, education and health, things that we may take for granted as typical civilians.
"For example, many soldiers do not have a fixed address and that can make simple things like registering with a GP or a school needlessly difficult and this covenant can help in those situations."
The document will be signed by Mole Valley council chairman David Sharland, Headley Court commanding officer Group Captain Clare Walton, council leader Christopher Townsend, council chief executive Yvonne Rees and neighbourhood policing commander Inspector Andy Rundle.
Representatives of Mole Valley Housing Association, and Leatherhead and Dorking branches of Citizens Advice Bureau, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Families Association, The Royal British Legion, The Soldiers' Charity, Dorking and District Age Concern, the faith community in Mole Valley and the chambers of commerce will also sign.
Mr Bruinvels added: "We are also doing deals with local businesses because former service personnel have a lot to offer due to their work ethic and they are very loyal to their employers.
"But it isn't just for those based at Headley Court.
"This is a massive opportunity for the armed forces, in return, to become more integrated into the district.
"The covenant is being signed on behalf of everyone in Mole Valley and this act continues the area's strong association with our brave soldiers."
