Debenham Shed
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, His 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 Debenham Shed 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 Debenham Shed 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 Reservists
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
We also pledge the following:
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Creating a Safe, Inclusive and Accessible Space: We will provide a welcoming, respectful and non-judgemental environment for Service personnel, Reservists, Veterans, members of the Cadet movement and military families. We will ensure that Service history, rank, disability or other personal circumstances do not create unnecessary barriers to joining or taking part, and will make reasonable adjustments where practicable.
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Supporting Wellbeing, Friendship and Shared Skills: We will use practical activities, skill sharing and informal companionship to help build confidence, wellbeing and social connection. Armed Forces Community members will be encouraged to take part at their own pace and, where they wish, to share their own experience and skills.
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Making Our Welcome Visible: We will continue to promote the Shed through the parish magazine, our website and local community networks, clearly stating that members of the Armed Forces Community are welcome. We will seek opportunities to engage local Veterans and Armed Forces organisations and invite them to visit the Shed.
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Building Partnerships and Signposting Support: We will strengthen our existing links with local branches of the Royal British Legion and RAFA and seek appropriate relationships with other Armed Forces charities, NHS Veterans services and local Covenant partners. Where specialist assistance may be needed, we will provide discreet signposting to suitable support rather than attempting to replace professional services.
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Supporting Remembrance and Armed Forces Activities: We will continue to support appropriate local activities, including the Poppy Appeal and Remembrance, and consider opportunities to take part in Armed Forces Day or other Armed Forces Community events. We will also seek practical projects with military organisations, building on the Poppy stand made for the Debenham branch of the Royal British Legion.
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Providing a Point of Contact and Listening to Feedback: We will nominate a member of the Shed as the Armed Forces Community point of contact. We will invite feedback from Armed Forces Community members, use it to improve our welcome and support, and review these commitments regularly.
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.