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Proud and strong communities

Supporting Bexley’s Armed Force community

Armed Forces Community Covenant

The London Borough of Bexley has a long-standing commitment to its Armed Forces community. The Council signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant in 2013 alongside representatives of the Armed Forces, the Royal British Legion, the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association and other partners.

The Covenant recognised the contribution of serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families, committing partners to work together across areas including housing, education, health and welfare, veterans’ support, recruitment, training and civic recognition.

That commitment remains as important today. Bexley is home to just under 5,000 veterans, as well as military families, reservists and 10 cadet units, alongside an established military presence in the Borough.

On Armed Forces Day 2027, the Council will build on this work by signing a renewed Armed Forces Community Covenant, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community and strengthening partnership working across the Borough.

The renewed Covenant will provide an opportunity to further strengthen the Council’s support for the Armed Forces community and build on the strong foundations established through the original Covenant. The Council will continue working with partners to ensure that its commitments make a practical difference to serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families, while recognising and celebrating their contribution to the Borough.

Councillor David Leaf, Leader of the Council, said: 

Signing our renewed Armed Forces Community Covenant will be an important milestone and an opportunity to build on our longstanding commitment to Bexley’s Armed Forces community. We are proud of the contribution made by serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families and will continue to work with our partners to ensure our support makes a practical difference and that members of the Armed Forces community feel valued in Bexley.”

armed force community
armed force community

Supporting our cadets and uniformed youth groups

Supporting our Armed Forces community also means supporting the young people and volunteers who are at the heart of our cadet and uniformed youth organisations. On Saturday 3 October, Councillor Brian Bishop, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, who is also Bexley’s Representative Councillor for the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Greater London, attended the Elworthy Trophy Competition at St Dunstan’s College. 12 cadet teams from  across Greater London competed in a range of challenges designed to test teamwork, leadership, physical and mental agility and practical skills.

Events such as this demonstrate the valuable opportunities uniformed youth groups provide, helping young people develop confidence, skills, friendships and leadership abilities. Supporting these organisations is an important part of the wider commitment to our Armed Forces community.

supporting armed force community

Could you help inspire the next generation? Uniformed youth groups rely on adult volunteers to provide these opportunities and are always looking for people who can give their time, skills and enthusiasm. You don’t need to have a military background, just a willingness to get involved and help young people thrive. Volunteering can be incredibly rewarding while making a real difference to young people in your local community.

Find your nearest group and discover how you can get involved using YOU London’s ‘What’s Near Me’ tool. Search by postcode or organisation to find opportunities across Bexley.

For more information visit You London

New memorial orchard at Woodlands Farm

The Mayors of Bexley and Greenwich have officially opened the new memorial orchard at Woodlands Farm, created to honour the local men who lost their lives in the First World War.

Funded by The East Wickham and Welling War Memorial Trust, the orchard provides a fitting and lasting ‘living memorial’. At the time of the war, Welling was largely agricultural and many of the men remembered here had worked as gardeners or on local farms before leaving to serve their country.

The orchard is planted with traditional heritage apple varieties and includes a bench where visitors can pause and reflect.

The opening was attended by children from Foster’s School, as well as soldiers from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, adding a special sense of occasion to the event.

Visitors are warmly invited to explore the orchard and take a moment to remember the young men whose lives were cut short, and to reflect with gratitude on the sacrifice they made more than a century ago.

poppy
woodlands farm
woodlands farm
woodlands farm