Oldham Athletic FC Veterans and Armed Forces Supporters Group
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 Oldham Athletic FC Veterans and Armed Forces Supporters Group 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 Oldham Athletic FC Veterans and Armed Forces Supporters Group 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 Service Spouses And Partners
- Armed Forces Day
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:
Promoting the Armed Forces: We are a Military Veterans and Armed Forces supporters group at Oldham Athletic Football club reaching out to support Service Leavers and in service members of the Armed Forces. Veterans and Armed Forces Personnel. Founded by two RAF Veterans, we offer respite through mutual support of professional / semi-professional sports teams in Oldham. Offering camaraderie and friendship amongst like-minded people within our immediate community and beyond. Communications, engagement, and outreach: Use of social media to reach out to support our Veterans, Armed Forces and Families. TwitterX @HMVETERANSOAFC : FB Oafc Veterans. OADID . Collaboration with The Disabled Supporters Association of Oldham Athletic to offer disa-bility access to facilitate Disabled / injured Veterans to attend match days. Oldham Athletic Community Trust. We will work closely with the community trust team at the club and meet on a monthly basis to support and facilitate further opportunities for our Veterans and Armed Forces, recognising military skills and qualifications to support application for employment. Veterans and Service Spouse band Families, Raising funds to offer engagement activities with the Football club including: Free Tickets for individuals and Families, Mascot packages for Children in-cluding free tickets for parents/ guardians Royal British Legion. Members of our local RBL branch and will be working closely with them to support Military events throughout the year. Remembrance Day/ Poppy Appeal Day and Armed Forces Day Activities Armed Forces Charities SSAFA. Supporting and raising awareness of SSAFA by actively in-volving them in events and activities. Meeting the Northwest Fundraising team to coordi-nate fundraising and awareness opportunities. Mental Health. Supporting a pathway to ANDYSMANCLUB support group, who offer weekly free peer to peer support groups if required.
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.