Harmonia - Women's Wellbeing Centre CIC
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 Harmonia - Women’s Wellbeing Centre CIC 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 Harmonia - Women’s Wellbeing Centre CIC 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:
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Reservists
We also pledge the following:
- Promoting awareness of the Armed Forces Covenant within our organisation and service information.
- Displaying the Armed Forces Covenant logo in line with guidance.
- Ensuring fair and non-discriminatory practices in line with the Armed Forces Covenant principles.
- Demonstrating awareness of the transferable skills and experiences of veterans and reservists where relevant.
- Asking sensitively about Armed Forces background during assessment and referral processes where appropriate.
- Ensuring staff are aware of the Armed Forces Covenant and its relevance to their work.
- Engaging with local referral partners to support members of the Armed Forces community.
- Ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community are not disadvantaged in accessing our services.
- Providing person centred counselling and wellbeing support, with an awareness of trauma and service-related experiences.
- Recognising the potential impact of service-related experiences, deployment and transition.
- Signposting to specialist NHS Veterans Mental Health Services and Armed Forces charities when appropriate.
- Not applicable to our core service provision, however we will signpost to appropriate specialist services where housing issues impact wellbeing.
- Increasing staff awareness of the challenges faced by Armed Forces families, veterans and reservists.
- Supporting understanding of Armed Forces-related issues within our professional practice.
- Treating members of the Armed Forces community with respect, fairness and understanding.
- Reviewing our Armed Forces Covenant commitments periodically to ensure they remain realistic, meaningful and achievable.
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.