Gravesham has a proud military heritage and now it has cemented those links.

A community covenant has been signed to end disadvantages faced by soldiers, sailors, airmen and their families returning to civvy street.

It was sealed this week at Gravesham council and will complement the national Armed Forces Convenant that outlines the moral obligation between nation, government and armed forces.

The Gravesham pact is designed to encourage, and reinforce support for the forces’ community working and residing in Kent and, in some cases, positively discriminate in their favour.

It embraces serving service personnel and service veterans, their families and immediate next of kin in Kent.

The pledge gives special consideration in some cases, particularly for those who have given most, such as the injured and bereaved.

All too often members of the services face particular difficulties in meeting the criteria to qualify for help, benefits, housing and employment due to the nature of their duties." - Council leader John Cubitt (Con)

Council leader John Cubitt (Con) said: “This reaffirms our commitment to our armed forces locally as part of the wider Kent Convenant.”

He added: “We are pleased to have brought on board other local organisations and hope to take this further with both the public and private sectors.

“All too often members of the services face particular difficulties in meeting the criteria to qualify for help, benefits, housing and employment due to the nature of their duties.

“This compact aims to remove those problems and, where appropriate, positively discriminate in their favour.

“We all owe a debt to our military especially in these uncertain times.

“The covenant is a solemn recognition of that debt and shows our desire to redress the balance for these vital men and women.”

Signatories to the Gravesham document included Cllr Cubitt and Lt Col Andrew Betts, commanding officer 3rd battalion of The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment based in Canterbury, along with officials of local authority groups, and the Royal British Legion.