Northumbria University, Newcastle, has become the first university in the North-East to sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant.

As a signatory, Northumbria has committed to recognising the value serving members of the Armed Forces, both regular and reservists, veterans and their families contribute to the University and the local community. Northumbria has also received the Bronze Award from the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme for its support of staff linked to the armed forces.

The Covenant was enshrined in law in 2011 to set in stone the moral obligation owed to the Armed Forces by Government and the nation.

Lucy Winskell OBE DL, Pro Vice Chancellor Employability and Partnerships at Northumbria, received the award on behalf of the University during a business event aboard the Royal Naval Reserve unit HMS Calliope on the Tyne. She said: “To be the first university in the North East to sign up to the Covenant is something we are very proud of. It is a clear statement that we recognise the contribution and sacrifice made by members of the Armed Forces community. Today marks the formal signing of our pledge to ensure service personnel, veterans and their families will be supported.”

Jamie Carrahar, Senior Lecturer at Newcastle Business School and Army Reservist with 3 Army Education Centre in Catterick added: “Maintaining the equilibrium between parallel careers at Northumbria University and the Army Reserve is challenging. Today marks an important day, which formally recognises Northumbria's commitment to support staff and students who serve and wider members of the Armed Forces community who have served. My fellow reservists and I, fully appreciate the support and flexibility afforded by Northumbria University to fulfil commitments with the Reserve Forces and their recognition of the benefits Reserve service brings to the University."

Northumbria University has one of the leading centres dedicated to research into the health of military veterans and their families through its Northern Hub for Military Veterans and  Families Research. Over the last couple of years the University has received £1.1m of research funding from a variety of sources including the Ministry of Defence and Royal British Legion. Research projects include the development of a smartphone App providing details of support services available for UK military veterans, which will also inform service planning. It also includes research into substance misuse of veterans which is being used to help develop services and research into the lives of aged veterans.