Anglia Ruskin University
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, Her 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 Anglia Ruskin University 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 Anglia Ruskin University 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:
- UK Service Spouses And Partners
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Armed Forces Charities
- UK Wounded, Injured And Sick
We also pledge the following:
Promoting the Armed Forces: By the promotion of the Armed Forces Covenant, the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and our support for the Armed Forces Community to our staff, students, supply chains and the wider public. By supporting Armed Forces events, such as Armed Forces Week, the Poppy Appeal and Remembrance activities. Fully support local Armed Forces charities, by supporting their fundraising activities. By creating a dedicated Armed Forces page on our website and use the Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme logos in our communications and marketing. Establishing an internal Armed Forces Network within our organisation to enable staff members with an Armed Forces connection to meet and support one another. Engage with our local Armed Forces presence, Army units, reservist units, RAF stations and the RFCA. Run, facilitate and promote support networks (such as coffee mornings and breakfast clubs) for veterans and other members of the Armed Forces Community. Employment support to members of the Armed Forces Community: Support Reservists by offering them 10 additional days of annual paid leave in order to carry out their duties. Offer additional paid annual leave to Cadet Force Adult Volunteers to help them carry out their training requirement. Engage with the Career Transition Partnership to offer work opportunities to Service Leavers and to the Wounded, Injured and Sick. Support the employment of Service spouses, partners and dependants by signing up to Forces Families Jobs; and working with the tri-Service Families Federations. Provide remote-working solutions to benefit the mobile Armed Forces Community, especially partners and spouses. Commercial: Ensure the Armed Forces Community has fair access to our services and is not put at a disadvantage by their service, for example as a result of their high mobility. Education: Note, promote and make use of provisions for Armed Forces families in the Universitys Admissions practice. Promote resources such as the Service Children Progression Alliances Thriving Lives Toolkit. Support and promote the wellbeing of Service children, recognising the particular experiences and challenges they may face. Promote training and further/higher education opportunities for those in Service, Service leavers, ex-Service personnel, Reservists and their families.
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.