Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales
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 Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales 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 Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales 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
- UK Wounded, Injured And Sick
We also pledge the following:
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We will engage with local Armed Forces units, veterans’ groups and support organisations to improve awareness of our services and ensure that members of the Armed Forces Community know how to access appropriate support.
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We will ensure that staff are aware of the specific health and wellbeing needs that may affect members of the Armed Forces Community, including caring responsibilities, and will signpost to specialist support services where needed.
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We will provide appropriate information and signposting to housing and housing related support services for members of the Armed Forces Community who are unpaid carers, where identified.
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We will support access to training, education and skills development for members of the Armed Forces Community and will work to identify and support young carers from military families so they can access appropriate educational and wellbeing support.
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We will encourage staff and volunteers to work in partnership with local authorities, the health board, and community organisations to strengthen local support networks.
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We will provide information, advice and signposting to support income maximisation and access to welfare benefits for members of the Armed Forces Community and their families, particularly those with caring responsibilities, injury, bereavement or ill health impact on financial stability.
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We will ensure that unpaid carers from the Armed Forces Community are treated with fairness, dignity and respect, and that their caring roles are recognised and supported through our services, policies and practice.
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.