V-Aid
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 V-Aid 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 V-Aid 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 Reservists
We also pledge the following:

Health: V-Aid actively links the provision of emergency food aid with the promotion of veterans’ and reservists health. By involving them in significant roles within our operations, we contribute to their mental and physical well-being, offering a structure that supports veteran health post-service and aids in their reintegration into civilian life. Civic Responsibilities: At its core, V-Aid is about civic duty, leveraging veterans’ and reservists skills to meet the immediate needs arising from crises. This not only aids those directly impacted by disasters but also enhances the veterans’ engagement with civic life, underscoring our broader commitment to social responsibility and community support. Veterans In Crisis Program: Integral to our mission, the “Veterans In Crisis” programme underscores our dual focus on global disaster relief and domestic veteran support. By dispatching emergency food packages within 24 hours to veterans referred by veteran hubs and support groups, we bridge the gap to more sustainable food sources, simultaneously we include literature on further help options and support group information to extend our support beyond immediate aid. Although called Veterans in Crisis, this programme is not open solely to veterans, but to the whole Armed Forces Community should they require this emergency support. Conclusion: V-Aid exemplifies the mutual benefits of employing veterans and reservists skills for emergency food aid, simultaneously supporting communities through swift disaster response, and offering veterans and reservists purposeful engagement. This model not only aligns with but actively advances the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, spotlighting veterans’ and reservists invaluable societal contributions and fostering their well-being and seamless reintegration into civilian life.

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.