LION Culture Armed Forces Covenant Pledge

The Armed Forces Covenant

An Enduring Covenant Between

The People of the United Kingdom

His 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 Covenant

 

  • We, LION Culture Ltd, will endeavour to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant:

 

  • Members of the Armed Forces Community should not face disadvantages arising from their service in the provision of public and commercial services.
  • In some circumstances special provision may be justified, especially for those who have given the most, such as the injured or bereaved.

 

Section 2: Demonstrating our Commitment

 

2.1       We recognise the contribution that Service personnel, reservists, veterans, the cadet movement and military families make to our organisation, our community and to the country. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant by:

 

Employment

 

  • LION Culture will actively support Reservists by promoting additional days of annual leave (paid/unpaid) for them to fulfil their duties effectively. We will facilitate work placements, insight days, mentoring schemes, and interview programs tailored for Veterans seeking employment.

 

  • LION Culture is dedicated to supporting the employment of Service spouses, partners, and dependants by offering short-notice leave for those whose loved ones are deployed, in collaboration with the tri-Service Families Federations.

 

  • We will promote employment initiatives aimed at the Armed Forces Community, including programs like ‘A Great Place to Work’ and ‘Step into Health’.

 

  • LION Culture will provide additional paid and unpaid annual leave to Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, helping them meet their training requirements.

 

  • We will collaborate with relevant charities and the Career Transition Partnership to create work opportunities for individuals who are Wounded, Injured, or Sick.

 

  • LION Culture will explore remote-working solutions to support the mobile Armed Forces Community, especially for partners and spouses.

 

Communications, Engagement, and Outreach

 

  • LION Culture will offer and promote training, including e-learning, for our staff focused on understanding the Armed Forces Community.

 

  • We will actively promote the Armed Forces Covenant and the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, showcasing our commitment to the Armed Forces Community to our staff, customers, supply chains, and the public.

 

  • LION Culture will support and promote events related to the Armed Forces, such as Armed Forces Day/Week, Reserves Day, the Poppy Appeal, and Remembrance activities.

 

  • We will incorporate the Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme logos in our communications and marketing materials to raise awareness.

 

  • LION Culture will create a dedicated Armed Forces page on our website to provide a comprehensive information and services.

 

  • We will establish an internal Armed Forces Network within our organisation to foster connections among staff members with Armed Forces ties and to gather their feedback.

 

  • An Armed Forces Champion will be appointed within our organisation to coordinate and promote support initiatives for the Armed Forces Community.

 

  •  LION Culture will engage with and support local Armed Forces charities, enhancing our community connections.

 

  • We will ensure members of the Armed Forces Community are informed about available support services, including resources from Cobseo, the Veterans’ Gateway, and local statutory services.

 

  • LIONCulture will create awareness and support networks, such as coffee mornings and breakfast clubs, specifically for veterans and other members of the Armed Forces Community.
  •  We will actively engage with local Armed Forces entities, including Army units, reservist units, RAF stations, and naval bases.

 

  • LION Culture will work collaboratively with other organisations in our locality/region to support the Covenant and the Armed Forces Community.

 

Commercial

 

  • LION Culture will promote commercial discounts for members of the Armed Forces Community through the Defence Discount Service, ensuring they receive fair benefits.

 

  • We will ensure that the Armed Forces Community has equitable access to our services, safeguarding against disadvantages due to their service, such as issues arising from high mobility.

 

Health and Healthcare

 

  • LION Culture will promote awareness-raising initiatives, including veteran-friendly accreditation for GP practices and the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance.

 

Housing

 

  • We are committed to raising awareness of housing and homelessness services available to the Armed Forces Community.

 

Education

 

  • LION Culture will advocate for the well-being of Service children by acknowledging the unique challenges they face.

 

  • We will promote training and further/higher education opportunities for Service leavers, ex-Service personnel, and their families to facilitate their transition and growth.