Muircroft Housing Association Ltd
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 Muircroft Housing Association Ltd 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 Muircroft Housing Association Ltd 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
We also pledge the following:
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Employment: The Board, in its capacity as a small employer, expresses strong support for efforts to assist and promote opportunities for veterans transitioning out of military service. The Board will explore how Muircroft can become an AFC friendly employer.
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Procurement: The Board encourages its suppliers — and organisations wishing to work with Muircroft — to also be signatories to the AFC. The Board will accept a supplier’s signatory status to the AFC as a recognised element of any social impact measurement within procurement and tender assessments.
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Housing: The Board notes that ALL applications to join the Muircroft housing register are considered on the applicants’ individual circumstances e.g. current housing need, an independent living assessment, being 60 years of age +, local connection to the New Forest etc. Furthermore, the Board believes that our allocations policy does not present a disadvantage to an applicant who may be from the veteran community as the majority of the Associations empty homes are allocated via nominations from New Forest District Council (NFDC) who is also a signatory to the AFC. The Board approved the addition of a codicil to the Association’s Allocations Policy confirming: “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.” To this end Muircroft welcomes applications from the veteran 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.