Veterans Dementia Support UK
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 Veterans Dementia Support UK 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 Veterans Dementia Support UK 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
- Flexible Leave For Spouses
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Discounts
- Armed Forces Charities
- UK Wounded, Injured And Sick
We also pledge the following:
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Promote employment schemes aimed at the Armed Forces Community, such as ‘A Great Place to Work’ and ‘Step Into Health’.
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Engage with the Career Transition partnership. for anyone interested in working with people living with dementia.
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To welcome any members of the Armed Forces members and veterans to undertake Dementia Friends Training with us and learn more about the needs of veterans in older life and be part of our befriending scheme.
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Provide the chance for all members of the Armed Forces Community to be recognised as Dementia Friends through the training provided by us
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Promote the Armed Forces Covenant, the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and your support for the Armed Forces Community to our trustees, staff, volunteers and service users and the wider public.
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Use the Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme logos in our communications and marketing.
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To display the Armed Forces Covenant on our Website and Social Media.
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Establish an internal Armed Forces Network within your organisation, to enable staff members with an Armed Forces connection to meet and Support one another and provide feedback to you as an organisation.
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For or Armed Forces Champion to reach out and create a dedicated Armed Forces Network for our Organisation.
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Run, facilitate or promote support networks (such as coffee mornings, breakfast clubs) for veterans and other members of the Armed Forces Community across the UK.
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Continue to engage with any local Armed Forces presence — example, local Army units, reservist units, RAF stations and/or naval bases.
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Develop relationships and work collaboratively with other organisations supporting the Covenant and the Armed Forces Community in your locality/region.
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Take part in and/or promote awareness-raising schemes, such as veteran-friendly accreditation for GP practices and the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance.
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To reach out to veterans in care homes and provide them with dedicated support for them through befriending schemes , reminiscing and supporting them on their dementia journey.
Ensure available dedicated healthcare services for members of the Armed Forces Community, such as Op COURAGE in England, are signposted and promoted and also ensure that Veterans and families are aware of the dedicated support services that we provide for Veterans living with Dementia and their families.
- Ensure that Housing Associations and Care Homes are aware Of Our work for Veterans in the local community and know where to access support for their 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.