The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers
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 Worshipful Company of Cordwainers 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 Worshipful Company of Cordwainers 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 Charities
We also pledge the following:
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We will maintain strong links with our affiliated regiment, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, promoting regular correspondence and issuing regular invitations for service personnel to attend Company events.
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We will seek to involve a cross section of members in visits to C (City of London Fusiliers) Company 5 RRF, when such opportunities arise and to the Army Cadet Units.
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We will seek to raise awareness across our wide network of members Of the scope of duties carried out by the Armed Forces and the importance of the Armed Forces Covenant.
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We will periodically invite members of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers to join the Company, to provide friendship and fellowship, and to invest in our membership’s understanding Of military service, such that they may be able to offer professional or employment advice to service personnel embarking on subsequent careers outside their Service.
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We will seek to ensure that members who are service personnel are supported and receive communications from the Company during their period Of duty when they are deployed on active service.
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Although few in number, we will advertise our own Company vacancies with service charities and employment agencies set up to help those who are changing career or retiring from active service.
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If applicable, we will support any reservists employed by the Company by providing appropriate paid leave for days when they are on deployment or required training and will give leave of absence from Court or Committee business for any members or officers of the Company who are members Of the Armed Forces and may be deployed or called to training.
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We will publicise our links with the Royal Regiment Of Fusiliers, including on a designated page on our website.
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We will provide resources, particularly staffing and expertise, to administer the Harben Armoury Fund, one of the Cordwainers associated charities, and nominate 50% Of the trustees for the board.
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We will give due consideration to any requests for funding for special projects in our affiliated regular, reserve and cadet units.
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We will engage with social media posts issued by our affiliated service units, reposting, commenting and reacting as appropriate.
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We will not publish names and photos of serving personnel without the express consent of the individuals and their chain of command.
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We will ensure that our Cordwainers Charitable Trust and associated Cordwainer charities actively seek to support requests, provided they are consistent with the charitable objects, from military and associated charities.
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We will encourage our members and those in our core and social media network to support the Poppy Appeal and Remembrance activities.
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We will participate in, and provide a financial contribution to, the City of London Garden of Remembrance Service each year. The Master will represent the Company in showing respect to the fallen and giving thanks for the service of all in the Armed Forces.
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We will support our affiliated units when invited to do so by attending civic functions at which their role and contribution to the community are being recognised eg. local annual presentations, national or royal recognition and awards.
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.