Little Giraffes Ltd
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-10)

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 Little Giraffes Ltd 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 Little Giraffes Ltd 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
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:

We will actively promote our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant by displaying information about our support for the Armed Forces community throughout our preschool and wraparound childcare settings. This includes sharing our pledge with staff, parents, visitors, and external agencies. We will ensure that all employees and families are aware of the support available to Armed Forces families, including through newsletters, social media, and community boards. We will encourage applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, service leavers, and spouses, for positions within our preschool and childcare services. We will work with local Armed Forces charities and organisations like the Career Transition Partner-ship to offer work opportunities, including flexible roles suitable for those transitioning to civilian life. Our staff will receive ongoing training on the unique challenges and needs of the Armed Forces community, particularly focusing on children from military families. We will provide resources and training on how to support these childrens emotional well-being, helping them to adjust and thrive in the preschool environment. We will also collaborate with local Armed Forces charities in Blackpool, offering our support through fundraising, volunteering, and actively engaging with these organisations to help improve the well-being of Service families. We will make every effort to support children from Armed Forces families by recognising the unique challenges they face, such as frequent relocations, parental deployments, and the emotional impact of military life. This will include providing additional support for children dealing with separation anxiety, adjusting to new environments, or managing the stress of a parents deployment. We will actively promote awareness among our staff to ensure that Service children feel welcomed, supported, and understood. We will also encourage and support training and development opportunities for Service leavers and their families, ensuring that they have access to relevant skills and training to enhance their employability in the childcare sector. We will support and participate in local Remembrance Day services and other ceremonies to show respect and recognition for the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces. We will also invite parents from the Armed Forces community to join in these activities, fostering a strong sense of community. Furthermore, we will celebrate and encourage positive discussion with our children about the importance of remembrance and community involvement, helping them understand the role of the Armed Forces in society.

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.