Next Step Mindfully
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 Next Step Mindfully 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 Next Step Mindfully 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
- Armed Forces Day
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:
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Use our wellbeing platforms to help raise awareness of mental health, emotional wellbeing, resilience and early support within the Armed Forces Community, encouraging conversations before people reach crisis point.
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Provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families accessing Next Step Mindfully’s wellbeing activities, circles, workshops, retreats and other services.
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Signpost members of the Armed Forces Community to appropriate specialist organisations and services where their needs fall beyond the scope of Next Step Mindfully.
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Explore opportunities to provide or support wellbeing activities specifically for veterans, serving personnel and military families, including mindfulness, meditation, nature-based wellbeing, journaling and opportunities for social connection.
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Listen to the experiences of members of the Armed Forces Community and use their feedback to help shape any future Armed Forces-focused wellbeing provision.
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Display our support for the Armed Forces Covenant within our communications and, where appropriate, on our website and at 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.