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Council News
Bedford Borough Council Wins Silver Award in Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
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Bedford Borough Council has achieved a Silver Award in the Ministry of Defence, Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
This scheme encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Council signed the Armed Forces Covenant and has a number of measures in place to help these individuals in their day-to-day lives.
Walk-in clinics for Booster vaccinations are now available for residents of Bedford Borough who fi t the following criteria, so there is now no need to make an appointment;
• live in residential care homes for older adults • all adults aged 50 years or over • frontline health and social care workers • those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions, put them at higher risk of severe
COVID-19 (as set in the green book), and adult carers These include extra leave for reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers to complete training and the creation of a Force Family Focus Group to help employees with a forces link to meet and access support. The Council also provides guaranteed interviews for service leavers within two months of discharge and fi ve years of leaving for veterans, and for reservists, where essential criteria for a role are met.
The Council also proactively engages with and supports a wide range of local armed forces organisations including the Veterans Community Network through the Councils’ Covenant Steering Group. This group meets every two months and includes representatives from local regular and reserve forces and other armed forces charities, to share news and information.
Local Bus Operators launch Cygnet Bus Pass
Stagecoach, Grant Palmer, Uno and Bedford Borough Council have relaunched the ‘Cygnet’ bus pass, which enables bus users to switch freely between the three local bus operators without the need to buy multiple tickets. The pass operates as a paper ticket and allows for unlimited travel on any Stagecoach, Grant Palmer and Uno bus in the Stagecoach Megarider zone, over the period of a day or a week – and users can mix and match bus providers. The Cygnet travel zone equates to the area currently covered by the Stagecoach Megarider, which includes the whole of Bedford and Kempston, as well as surrounding villages such as Bromham, Oakley, Cople and Elstow.
The ‘Cygnet’ pass is £6 for a day ticket, with the weekly ticket priced at £18.
• adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals
As long as you have proof that there has been at least six months since your second vaccine you can now walk into Bedford Heights on Manton Lane, and local pharmacies to get your COVID-19 booster vaccination. You will need to bring proof of eligibility (invite from NHS, letter from employer, confi rmation from GP) together with proof of the date of your second vaccination. If you don’t have these, you will be turned away until proof can be checked.
