Communities Together EA
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 Communities Together EA 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 Communities Together EA 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
- Flexible Leave For Spouses
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:
Promoting the Armed Forces through events and partnered events across Suffolk wherever pos-sible. Employment: support to members of the Armed Forces Community within our organisation such as any staff members. Supporting reservists by offering them additional days of annual leave unpaid/paid to carry out their duties. We will offer work placements, interviews to those seeking employment. We will support their families/partners by offering short notice leave to those who are on deployment. We will support employment schemes aimed at the Armed forces community where possible to do so. To offer additional(paid/unpaid) annual leave to Cadet Force Adult Volunteers to support them with their training requirements. We will consider ways in which remote- working solutions might be more beneficial to the mobile Armed Forces Com-munity. Communications engagement and outreach: We will socially engage with veterans and families by running social groups by identifying areas needing support and integration into their commu-nities. Promote the Armed Forces Covenant Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and our support for the Armed Forces Community to our staff, volunteers, Clients and service users. We have the Armed Covenant logo on our website and will use it on appropriate communications and marketing materials. We will support the Poppy Appeal and remembrance activities where possible. We will and already do support other Armed Forces organisations/charities with joint events/days. We will endeavour to signpost members of the Armed Forces community to availa-ble support from other organisations. We will develop relationships with other organisations supporting the Armed Covenant in Suffolk. Housing: We will continue to signpost to housing associations where possible and find suitable outcome to each requirement/need. Supporting our veteran clients over the telephone and Face to face via our befriending service and signposting to other organisations should we need to. Health & wellbeing of Veterans by checking in with them regularly. When we take on a client they are registered and are asked if they are a veteran. Civic responsibilities by supporting any engagements and events in Suffolk, and liaising with oth-er Armed Forces organisations. Building relationships with Armed forces organisations and finding ways in which to work to-gether to offer new services/social events.
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.