Donaghadee Men's 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 Donaghadee Men’s 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 Donaghadee Men’s 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 Spouses And Partners
- UK Reservists
We also pledge the following:
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Promoting the Armed Forces: by showing and demonstrating the skill level of our personnel who possess the ability to work well and efficiently to produce the best candidates for the roll through our work in the community continuing on from the current profile and work being carried out within the community.
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Employment support to members of the Armed Forces Community: The Donaghadee Community development Scheme is a group of businesses with the sole aim is to promote Donaghadee to the rest of the country through its various businesses all of which requires help the word of mouth and personal recommendation from business owners and operators who currently enjoy the benefits of Ex Armed forces working with them.
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Communications, engagement and outreach: We currently work with outside bodies promoting and engaging with external events ranging from work groups which help the elderly with minor work or organising a Tea and biscuits afternoon and simply chatting is always.
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Commercial: we have many businesses within the town all of which require staff either paid or volunteer work with training provided we have contacts within the local job market who can provide professional help The Donaghadee Community Development Association is 100% behind the covenant.
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Health: We liaise with the local health centre and mental health charity Beyond the Battlefield which provides free confidential help and support on a self referral basis We are aware of the changes of life style.
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Housing: We do not guarantee housing but working with the various families officers for the particular regiment can garner more support.
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Education: We have two excellent Further Education Colleges with good transport connections that is Bangor and Newtownards however Belfast is not to far away.
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Civic responsibilities: The Men’s Shed take our role within the community seriously and try to engage with all the various groups within our town to display our services and our standing in the community as part of the Men’s Shed or on an individual basis being recognised as strong supportive member of the community.
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.