Bridgeway Housing 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 Bridgeway Housing 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 Bridgeway Housing 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
- UK Reservists
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:
Commercial: We are committed to ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community are not disadvantaged when accessing our housing and support services. We will take into account the challenges that may arise from military life, such as frequent relocation or gaps in documentation, and will approach all cases with flexibility and understanding to ensure fair access for all. Health: We will raise awareness of specialist health support available to veterans and their families, including mental health services and veteran-specific healthcare pathways. Where appropriate, we will signpost individuals to services provided by third sector organisations and public sector providers that offer tailored care for the Armed Forces community. Housing: We recognise the unique challenges that serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families can face in securing housing. Bridgeway Housing CIC will provide clear and accessible information about housing options and will give fair and appropriate consideration to any additional needs arising from mobility, deployment or service-related injuries. Where appropriate, we will waive local connection requirements for eligible members of the Armed Forces community to ensure they are not disadvantaged when applying for housing. Education: We will provide training to our staff to improve understanding of the Armed Forces community, including the experiences of veterans, in order to ensure respectful, informed and appropriate support. In addition, we will support awareness of education and training opportunities available to Service leavers, veterans and their families. Civic responsibilities: We will actively support and take part in local remembrance ceremonies and other civic activities that honour the contributions and sacrifices of the Armed Forces community. In addition, we will encourage collaboration between Bridgeway Housing CIC and other organisations that support the Armed Forces Covenant, working together to enhance our shared impact.
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.