Provost Christine Simpson presented a Stirling Council plaque to Lt Col Justin Yates of 154 (Scottish) Regiment RLC as a reciprocal gift of thanks for their support during COVID-19.
Lt Col Yates had previously presented a military plaque to Stirling Council’s Risk and Resilience team to recognise the joint working between the military planning team and the local authority.
Working in collaboration with the Council
British military personnel have been a key part of the UK's COVID-19 response, engaging in the largest peacetime resilience operation ever undertaken by the UK Armed Forces, particularly over the winter months when the virus was at its peak.
Locally the Armed Forces supported the planning and introduction of the community asymptomatic testing sites hosted on a rotational basis in Callander and Cowie, as well as providing training to Active Stirling when the operation of these sites was handed over in April.
The Armed Forces also assessed locations across Stirling as potential mass vaccination sites, prior to a final decision by NHS Forth Valley to use rural GPs.
Helping deliver key initiatives
Stirling Provost, Councillor Christine Simpson, said: “Working alongside Stirling Council, the expertise of the British Armed Forces played a key role in the way we were able to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“Our collaboration on the delivery of Community Testing Units in Callander and Cowie is a key initiative that can help us suppress the virus and prevent its spread in our communities.
“Stirling Council has always had a strong relationship with the Armed Forces, as evidenced when we received a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, and our co-operation during the Coronavirus pandemic has ensured a further strengthening of the relationship between both organisations.”
Invaluable support for communities
Stirling Council Leader, Councillor Scott Farmer, said: “With the easing of restrictions across Scotland, the Community Testing Units that have been established in Callander and Cowie on a rotational basis are invaluable tools help our communities suppress the virus and prevent its spread across Stirling
“The past year has been incredibly difficult for us all and I want to thank the Armed Forces for their efforts to work in conjunction with the Council for the benefit of our communities.”
Stirling Council's Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Bryan Flannagan, said: "Our Armed Forces have again showed that they are able to adapt and overcome any challenge - in this case working alongside the NHS and all other organisations to ensure the UK's vaccination programme continues to go from strength to strength during one of the most challenging periods in our country's history.
“Stirling enjoys a close relationship with all three branches of the Armed Forces and we are proud to support in all ways we can."
Stirling Council is an Armed Forces Covenant signatory and holder of the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme Gold award.