Assistplus 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, 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 Assistplus 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 Assistplus 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
We also pledge the following:
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Drop-In Hubs & Advisory Support: Assistplus runs a Veteran Advisory Service Hub with drop‑ins at Bradley Stoke, Patchway, and other regional locations. These provide a safe, informal space to ask questions, get guidance, and be signposted to the right services.
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Transition Support: Helping service personnel leaving the Armed Forces gain confidence, understand civilian systems, and integrate into civilian life.
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Family Support: Extending help to spouses, dependents, and families navigating housing, education, healthcare, and employment challenges linked to military life.
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Advocacy and Navigation of Local Services.
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Coordinating Support Across Sectors : Working with public, private, and voluntary organisations to ensure veterans don’t fall through gaps and receive timely, appropriate support.
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Support for Overseas & Commonwealth Veterans: Assisting those returning to their home countries after service, especially where their last duty station was in South Gloucestershire and Southwest region.
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Employment, Skills, and Confidence Building.
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Gateway to Civilian Employment: Helping veterans translate military skills into civilian roles and supporting local businesses to understand the value of ex‑service personnel.
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Promoting Veteran Talent: Creating environments where veterans can showcase skills, build confidence, and access opportunities.
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Community Covenant & Local Integration.
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Supporting the Armed Forces Covenant: Assistplus works with stakeholders who have also signed the Covenant, ensuring veterans receive fair access to housing, healthcare, education, and employment.
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Preventative Support: Identifying underlying causes of issues early and helping veterans avoid crisis through coordinated, proactive support.
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Volunteer‑Led, Community‑Driven Support.
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Highly Dedicated Volunteer Team: With 15–50 volunteers, Assistplus delivers community‑centred support with no paid staff, ensuring resources go directly to veterans.
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Local Presence & Accessibility: Operating across multiple community locations, including telephone support where needed.
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We are uniquely placed to provide international volunteering initiative for our veteran community who want to volunteer abroad through ASSISTPLUS International Volunteer Initiative (IVI).
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We are one of the very few veteran‑led CICs in the UK offering structured international volunteering pathways designed specifically for ex‑service personnel and their families. The strength of the programme is that it builds on the natural instincts of the Armed Forces Community - service, teamwork, resilience, cultural adaptability and channels them into meaningful global impact.
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Our IVI programme stands out because it combines veteran identity, community purpose, and international development in a way that few organisations can replicate.
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Veteran‑Led Design Veterans understand veterans. The IVI Programme is shaped by people who have lived experience of deployment, transition, and service ethos. This ensures: • culturally sensitive placements. • psychologically safe environments. • mission‑driven volunteering that feels familiar and purposeful.
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Transferable Military Skills- The Armed Forces Community brings skills that are highly valuable in international settings: • leadership and team cohesion. • logistics and planning. • problem‑solving in unfamiliar environments. • adaptability and cross‑cultural communication.
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IVI turns these strengths into global service opportunities that benefit both the host communities and the veterans themselves.
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A Structured Pathway for Post‑Service Purpose- Many veterans seek renewed meaning after leaving the Forces. IVI provides: • a sense of mission. • opportunities to serve again in a positive, non‑combat capacity. • confidence‑building experiences. • a bridge between military identity and civilian contribution.
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A Strong Community Partnerships - Assistplus CIC’s existing networks across: • local authorities. • community organisations. • diaspora communities. • international partners. …mean you can create safe, well‑supported placements abroad that align with the Armed Forces Covenant and veteran wellbeing principles.
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Accessible, Inclusive Volunteering - The programme is designed to be: • low‑barrier. • community‑driven. • open to veterans, reservists, families, and Commonwealth veterans. • Supportive of those who may not have travelled since leaving service.
This makes IVI a gateway to global citizenship for the Armed Forces Community.
- Why This Matters for the Armed Forces Community International volunteering is proven to support: • mental wellbeing • social reconnection • identity rebuilding • leadership renewal • community belonging
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.