Reed Boardall 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 Reed Boardall 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 Reed Boardall 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:
- Armed Forces Friendly
- UK Service Spouses And Partners
- Flexible Leave For Spouses
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:
Employment support to members of the Armed Forces Community, Support Reservists by offering them additional days of annual leave (paid) in order to carry out their duties including summer training camps. Offer work placements, open days, and guaranteed interview schemes to Veterans seeking employment. Support the employment of Service spouses, partners and dependants, by signing up to Forces Families Jobs; offering short-notice leave to those whose partners are sent on de-ployment; and working with the tri-Service Families Federations. Offer insight days on college fairs and other events to older cadets looking for apprenticeships and further education opportunities Continue to engage with the Career transition partnership Offer flexible working opportunities to benefit the mobile Armed Forces community, especially partners and spouses Work with relevant charities and the Career Transition Partnership to offer work opportunities to the Wounded, Injured and Sick. Work with HM Prison service and relevant charities to support veterans seeking employment whilst on release on temporary licence or post release Work with DWP, People Plus and relevant charities to offer work opportunities for those who may be homeless and/or long term unemployed. Supporting the Armed Forces operational needs, including Reserve Service call outs, Reservist deployments, MACP and KAPE requirements by all employees, ensuring that deployed personnel have job security on their return: Communications, engagement and outreach: Support or promote Armed Forces events, such as Armed Forces Day/Week, Reserves Day, the Poppy Appeal and Remembrance activities. Use the Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme logos in your communications and marketing. Create a dedicated Armed Forces page on our website Appoint an Armed Forces Champion within your organisation to act as a focal point for or-ganising and promoting support for the Armed Forces Community. Engage with and support local and national Armed Forces charities, by supporting their activities and working collaboratively to achieve positive results. Signpost members of the Armed Forces Community to available support, for example from Cobseo, the Veterans Gateway or statutory services in our area. Run, facilitate or promote support networks (such as coffee mornings, breakfast clubs) for veterans and other members of the Armed Forces Community. Develop relationships and work collaboratively with other organisations supporting the Covenant and the Armed Forces Community in our locality/region. Education Promote training and further education opportunities for service leavers, veterans and their families, including apprenticeships, professional qualifications and the Driver Acade-my: Civic responsibilities Organise, facilitate, promote and/or take part in remembrance and other ceremonial activi-ties, including supporting and working with local communities.
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.