Engagement

Our members encourage support for reserves, cadets, cadet force adult volunteers and the wider military family through our enduring relationships within local communities, underpinned by our His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant Awards ceremonies and other annual events throughout the year.

We also encourage employers to support reservists, veterans, military spouses and cadet force adult volunteers through the Armed Forces Covenant and the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

The volunteer membership of East Anglia RFCA includes county groups of local employers to deliver employer engagement at the local level. They report into the Regional Employer Engagement Group, and then to the Regional Employer Engagement Board chaired by the 7th Brigade Commander.

The Regional Employer Engagement Director for East Anglia, Kristina Carrington, is a local point of call for reservists’ employers on behalf of Defence Relationship Management for the Ministry of Defence. She and her team works closely with organisations who wish to deepen their relationship with the military and steers them in the right direction. Support includes providing information on legal rights and responsibilities as an employer; reserves’ and adult volunteers’ training commitments and how they can affect employers; and guidance on how to get the best out of your reserve or cadet force adult volunteer employee. 

Embedded in the RFCA, The Regional Employer Engagement Director (REED), can also help employers access events and opportunities organised by the Armed Forces, including:

• Military taster events for civilians
• The Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour)
• Army Engagement Group presentations
• Employer Recognition Scheme events

The REED and the county RFCA Employer Engagement groups also nurture a network of employers who are supportive of the Armed Forces, and encourage more employers to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, or apply for a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award.

At the national level, through the Council of Reserve Forces, the RFCA provides an annual report assessing the health of the Reserve Forces and another on the health of the Cadet Forces to the Defence Council.