Chorley FC Community Foundation
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 Chorley FC Community Foundation 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 Chorley FC Community Foundation 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
We also pledge the following:
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Promoting the Armed Forces: Using our Victory Park Ex Forces group to spread a positive message about the British Armed Forces.
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Providing opportunities to engage with fans of the football club, local schools and various attached groups with positive messages.
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Celebrating Remembrance day with a pre-match tribute and wreath laying on the home game that falls closest.
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A yearly Remembrance day commemoration event that brings together Ex Service men and women in a safe environment in the clubhouse.
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Employment support to members of the Armed Forces Community: Offering volunteer opportunities within the group and CPD courses.
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As a foundation we have recently employed a ex forces football coach to deliver sessions in the local area on a casual basis.
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We will endeavour to appoint two official volunteers within the next twelve months of operating.
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Enhancing learning opportunities with various courses and workshops.
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Communications, engagement and outreach: Keeping a consistent connection with the local community and being inclusive to everybody.
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Sending out emails to let those involved with a summary of events going forward.
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A group WhatsApp that keeps members connected and shares information of activities.
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A welcoming atmosphere across all our forms of communication.
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Health: Provide fitness sessions, wellbeing events and various other enrichment activities.
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Using our monthly breakfast meet, we will bring in local event organisers who organise different social get togethers that everybody can enjoy. Members will be encouraged to come up with ideas on how they’d like to socialise.
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Visiting Altcar Barracks and spending time in their retreat using the camping pods they let veterans stay over and enjoy a weekend together.
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Weekly football sessions that get members fitter each week in a fun environment.
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Competitive football matches against other veterans across Lancashire.
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Weekly walks around the local area encouraging walking, talking and letting off steam.
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Housing: Offering advice and signposting people to relevant organisations in the local area.
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With a connection to Chorley Council and South Ribble Council we have a number of signposting options for issues relating to housing and support.
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Education: Workshops and learning opportunities that enhance members educational needs.
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Creating opportunities for members of the community to not only book on funded courses locally to enhance their C.V or general education, but to request courses that could be hosted through the foundation or local councils.
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Civic responsibilities: Becoming a trustworthy team of people in the area, ready to serve the community through a number of different avenues. Holding our standards high and being proud to support the football club, the foundation and people of the town.
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To constantly remember The Victory Park Ex-Forces Club expectations in whatever task or opportunity that they take on.
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.