Veterans’ charity awards council gold for backing armed forces

Wednesday, 2 July 2025 15:14

By David Murphy

Council leader Neil Emmott (l) and Mayor of Rochdale, councillor Janet Emsley, are handed the gold award by Veterans into Logistics founder, Darren Wright. Gathered behind are councillors, veterans and residents to celeb

Rochdale Borough Council has received a gold award from a local veterans’ charity in recognition of its continued support for former armed forces personnel.

The award was presented by Heywood based charity Veterans into Logistics during a flag-raising ceremony at Rochdale Town Hall for Armed Forces Day.

The charity, set up in 2020, helps ex-military personnel retrain as HGV drivers and find work in logistics. Over the past five years, it has supported more than 900 veterans, including around 100 from the Rochdale area.

In 2022, the council provided land at Bowlee in Middleton for a specialist reversing site. The DVSA-approved space has helped more than 300 veterans practise and pass their HGV tests, speeding up their route to employment.

Council leader Neil Emmott and Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Janet Emsley accepted the award on behalf of the authority.

Councillor Emmott said: “Veterans into Logistics do fantastic work and our support is unwavering. We are proud to work with them to give former armed forces members a route into paid work.”

He added that the charity was highly respected by residents in his West Middleton ward.

Councillor Emsley said it was fitting to receive the award on Armed Forces Day. “We’ve supported Veterans into Logistics from the beginning,” she said. “They really do change lives.”

Charity founder Darren Wright praised the council for its early backing and the long-standing partnership.

“Rochdale is our home council and they’ve been with us from day one. This award is a thank you for standing shoulder to shoulder with us,” he said.