Addressing Domestic Abuse CIC
We, the undersigned, commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.
The Armed Forces Covenant
An enduring covenant between the people of the United Kingdom, His Majesty’s Government and all those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their families
The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.
Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.
Section 1: Principles of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant
1.1 We Addressing Domestic Abuse CIC will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:
- no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen;
- and in some circumstances that special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
Section 2: Demonstrating our commitment
2.1 Addressing Domestic Abuse CIC recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by pledging to the following:
- Armed Forces Friendly
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Service Spouses And Partners
- Flexible Leave For Spouses
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Discounts
- Armed Forces Charities
- UK Wounded, Injured And Sick
- Additional Leave For Reservists
We also pledge the following:
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Supporting any mobilisations.
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Engaging with the Career Transition Partnership.
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Working with sector-led employment schemes aimed at the Armed Forces community, for example ‘A Great Place to Work’ and ‘Step Into Health’.
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Considering ways in which remote-working solutions might benefit the mobile nature of the Armed Forces community.
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Provide ways for our staff to learn about the Armed Forces community.
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Create a dedicated Armed Forces community section on our website.
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Appoint an Armed Forces lead within our organisation to coordinate support for the Armed Forces community.
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Signpost members of the Armed Forces community to available support, for example from Cobseo members, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs directory of support and statutory services in your area.
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Deliver or promote external events for veterans and other members of the Armed Forces community.
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Develop relationships and work collaboratively with other organisations supporting the Covenant and the Armed Forces community in our local area and/or our industry sector.
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Waive cancellation fees for utility and other contracts for those posted overseas or to areas outside the service provision.
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Ensure the Armed Forces community has fair access to our services and is not put at a disadvantage due to their service, for example due to deployment or mobility.
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Organise, facilitate, promote and/or take part in remembrance and other ceremonial activities.
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ADA CIC — Armed Forces Covenant Pledge Core statement (standard for all signatories):
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ADA CIC recognises the sacrifice made by all members of the Armed Forces community, and commits to upholding the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant:
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No member of the Armed Forces community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen.
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In some circumstances, special treatment may be appropriate, especially for the injured or bereaved.
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Encouraging Armed Forces support within our supply chain and partnerships — As a business-to-business organisation, ADA CIC’s greatest opportunity to support the Covenant lies in our commercial relationships. Where we engage suppliers, partners, or commissioned organisations, we will actively encourage them to consider signing the Armed Forces Covenant themselves, and will publicise and celebrate those who do. This will not form part of our procurement or commissioning selection criteria.
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Pursuing work and funding that supports the Armed Forces community — ADA CIC will actively seek out commissioning, partnership, and funding opportunities that address domestic abuse within the Armed Forces community, and will develop and submit proposals for such work where our expertise is relevant, including for serving personnel, veterans, reservists, and military families.
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Embedding Armed Forces awareness in our sector work — Given ADA CIC’s role in domestic abuse training, policy development and sector advocacy, we commit to ensuring that our training materials, guidance, and advocacy work reflect awareness of the specific needs and vulnerabilities of the Armed Forces community, including serving personnel, veterans, and military families, in relation to domestic abuse. This includes referencing appropriate specialist referral pathways (e.g. Army/Navy/RAF welfare services) where relevant in our materials.
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Advocacy within our network — ADA CIC will use its position within the domestic abuse sector to encourage and signpost the businesses and organisations we work with to consider signing the Covenant themselves.
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Employment support for veterans, reservists and service leavers — ADA CIC will consider applications from members of the Armed Forces community and recognise the transferable skills, leadership experience, and training gained through military service when recruiting for training, policy, and delivery roles.
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Support for reservists and service spouses/partners — Where ADA CIC employs or engages reservists, or spouses/partners of serving personnel, we will support training commitments, mobilisation obligations, and consider flexible working around postings and deployments.
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Signposting — ADA CIC will ensure that staff and associates working directly with the public are aware of specialist support available to the Armed Forces community and will signpost appropriately.
2.2 We will publicise these commitments through our literature and/or on our website, setting out how we will seek to honour them and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers on how we are doing.