The Lady Haig Poppy Factory
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 The Lady Haig Poppy Factory 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 The Lady Haig Poppy Factory 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
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:
Being a member of The Royal British Legion (RBL) group of charities we have fully adopted the stance that we are at the heart of a national network that supports our Armed Forces community through thick and thin ensuring their unique contribution is never forgotten. Founded by Lady Haig, we have been established since 1926 and we will be here as long as we are needed. Bringing together the nation, communities, and individuals to create better futures for our armed forces and their families through our ongoing welfare and support services after one day of service, through life, long after service is over. Promoting the fact that we are an armed forces-friendly organisation through our breadth of work as a leading Armed Forces Charity in Scotland. Our Articles of Association set out these objectives and powers, and details how the organisation is structured, organised and managed. Working collaboratively with our parent, Poppyscotland and other partner charities such as Veterans Scotland, and Veterans Gateway to deliver support to the armed forces community. The Veterans Gateway is a consortium of Armed Forces charities (Royal British Legion, SSAFA, Combat Stress and Poppy Scotland) making finding the right support quicker and easier. Supporting the employment of veterans by working in partnership and by advertising vacancies across Scotland, notably working with RFEA and the Officers Association (Scotland). Researching and monitoring the profile, size and needs of the Armed Forces community in Scotland with a dedicated Policy officer, an extension of the RBL Policy team, ensuring that statutory and voluntary service providers have access to information that enables them to understand the community they support and to target resources effectively. Support the Royal British Legion Scotland who are recognised as the lead organisation to deliver Remembrance in Scotland to the community, ensuring that it is understood and available to all and to pass it on to the next generation. Clearly evidenced by our commitment to learning and delivery of education in the factory and also via Poppyscotlands mobile learning service BUD, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Support to Royal British Legion Scotland to ensure that the people of Scotland remember all those who have lost their lives on active service to the Crown, in all conflicts from the beginning of First World War to the present day. It also honours the service of the Armed Forces and veterans, and the contribution of their families our beneficiary community. Ensure service and sacrifice is represented by the red poppy, held by our parent charity and recognised to be the symbol of Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future that is and will continue to be manufactured within the Lady Haigs Poppy Factory, a supported business that only employs veterans
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.