Salford Veterans Network 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 Salford Veterans Network 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 Salford Veterans Network 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:
- Armed Forces Friendly
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Service Spouses And Partners
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Discounts
- UK Wounded, Injured And Sick
We also pledge the following:
Promoting the Armed Forces Community: o We will promote the fact that we are an Armed Forces friendly organisation, to our staff, partners, customers , suppliers, contractors and the wider public. Veterans, Reservists, Cadet Organisations, Service Spouses & Partners: o We will support the employment and training of the veterans community, recognising mili- tary skills and qualifications in our recruitment and selection process; working with the Ca- reer Transition Partnership (CTP) and Forces Families Jobs Forum to support the employ- ment of Service leavers where possible. We will also offer work experience opportunities and training to the Wounded, Injured and Sick. o We will refer and work in collaboration with all partners to promote opportunities in train- ing. education and employment within our region. Communications, engagement and outreach : o We will Provide and promote training for staff of the Armed Forces Community. o We will promote the Armed Forces Covenant, the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and our support for the Armed Forces Community to our staff, customers, supply chains and the wider public. o We will support and promote Armed Forces events, such as Armed Forces Day/Week, Re- serves Day, the Poppy Appeal and Remembrance activities. o We will use the Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme logos in all our communica- tions and marketing materials. o We have an Armed Forces Champion wit hin the organisation to act as a focal point for or- ganising and promoting support for the Armed Forces Community. o We will engage with and support local Armed Forces charities by supporting their fundrais- ing activities both locally and nationally. o We will s ignpost members of the Armed Forces Community to available support such as Cobseo, the Veterans Gateway, statutory services and other veteran organisations in our area. o We will run, facilitate and promote support networks such as coffee mornings and break- fast clubs for all members of the Armed Forces Community. o We will develop relationships and work collaboratively with other organisations supporting the Covenant and the Armed Forces Community in our region. Commercial Support: Commercial Support: o We offer a discount to memWe offer a discount to members of the Armed Forces community by the way of gift bers of the Armed Forces community by the way of gift vouchers for the Armed Forces Community identified to be struggling with financial vouchers for the Armed Forces Community identified to be struggling with financial difficulties to eat.difficulties to eat. o We will ensure the Armed Forces Community have We will ensure the Armed Forces Community have fair accessfair access to our services and are not to our services and are not put at a diput at a disadvantage by their service or because of their high mobility. Our premises are sadvantage by their service or because of their high mobility. Our premises are fully accessible for all.fully accessible for all. Health and Wellbeing: Health and Wellbeing: o We will ensure all members of the Armed Forces Community are aware of support We will ensure all members of the Armed Forces Community are aware of support pathways available to them such as Op COURAGE inpathways available to them such as Op COURAGE in England, veteranEngland, veteran–friendly accreditation friendly accreditation for GP practices and the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance and they are signposted for GP practices and the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance and they are signposted and promoted to all our customers and users.and promoted to all our customers and users. o We will promote the awareness of housing and homelessness services among the Armed We will promote the awareness of housing and homelessness services among the Armed Forces Community.Forces Community. o We offer a friendly and relaxed atmosphere to support all of the wider Armed Forces We offer a friendly and relaxed atmosphere to support all of the wider Armed Forces Community and to help prevent social isolationCommunity and to help prevent social isolation
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.