Dozens of organisations are to be invited to sign up to a community covenant to help support members of the armed forces and their families across the district.

The plan is intended to make it easier for serving armed forces personnel, their relatives and veterans to access help and support in areas such as health and housing.

Discussions have taken place between the Council, military representatives and other agencies to find out the best way forward.

And work is under way with voluntary organisations and public sector bodies like the health service, fire service, courts and probation service to help develop the covenant.

Members of Bradford Council’s executive will be asked to back the plan with partners being invited to sign a community covenant pledge.

The covenant will include a military and civilian partnership that meets to consider issues affecting the armed forces community.

If implemented it would mean local organisations could have access to Government grants of up to £250,000 to support the local armed forces community.

Bradford Council leader, Councillor Ian Greenwood, said: “Bradford has had a close relationship with the military for many years and a particularly close one with the local regiments. But we feel that it is important to recognise that relationship and take it further.”

Councillor John Ruding has also been appointed as Armed Forces Community Champion to ensure that members of the community continue to receive the recognition and consideration they deserve.

The Council offers the free use of sports centres for service personnel and former service personnel up to five years after leaving the forces.

Bradford already has close ties with the military with four regiments having been granted Freedom of the City. These are the 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment; 212 (Yorkshire) Field Hospital (Volunteers); the 269 (West Riding) Battery, Royal Artillery (V); and the 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment.

The covenant will be discussed at the corporate overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday, January 11. Work is also progressing on plans for a new war memorial to be installed in Bradford city centre.