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
1.1 We, Hull and East Yorkshire Mind, 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:
Communications, engagement and outreach: Attending events such as Hull Veterans weekend,
attend events and network with armed forces families.
Health: Ensure veterans feel comfortable accessing our preexisting services for mental health
support as well as working together to ensure our organisation remains trauma informed.
Housing: Ensure that those living with us, or who find themselves homeless, who also have a
veteran experience can access our housing support services.
Education: Educate local people about the link between mental health and veteran status.
Work with the local Cadets to raise awareness of mental health, highlighting the importance of
early intervention.
We will work with local Armed Forces charities such as Hull for Heros to ensure that veteran
mental health is addressed and supported.
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 Armed Forces Community and our customers
on how we are doing.
