Wigan & Leigh College
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 Wigan & Leigh College 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 Wigan & Leigh College 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:
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Service Spouses And Partners
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Discounts
We also pledge the following:
For services leavers: -Fair access to employment opportunities for suitably qualified service leavers for jobs in Wigan and Leigh college -Aligned and accessible education provision for serving personnel, service leavers and their families -Access to discounted services delivered through training services (The image centre and the wheel restaurant) For the community: –Jointly promoting training and career opportunities -Maximising opportunities for local cadet units to benefit form the use of college facilities -Work together on initiatives and projects that may enable a bid to the armed forces covenant fund for the mutual benefit of the community and the military -Contributing to and supporting armed forces day For students and staff: -Collaboration to develop the curriculum at Wigan and Leigh college specifically for STEM, service and health and social care -Embed throughout the college the recognition and promotion of shared principles of inclusivity and respect, through tutorials, enrichment, employability and college careers strategy -Supportive of reserve service for employees, including allowing time away for training when compatible with their job -Recognition of service as cadet force adult volunteers supporting shared values of community service -Promote reserve service for students on relevant courses and jointly promote army career opportunities across the college
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.