The Sands Care Group
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 The Sands Care Group 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 The Sands Care Group 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
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:

Promoting the Armed Forces: By hosting charity fundraiser towards to the Royal British Legion and by joining the veteran friendly framework. Supporting Veterans: Our home currently has 8 veterans and they are supported by raising awareness of their service in the armed forces, join in with groups within the home and are taken out to local veteran support groups such as the Bay Veteran Association. Employment support to members of the Armed Forces Community: Our senior management and recruitment team are a part of us joining the veteran friendly framework and encourage em-ployment in our place of business within the armed forces community. Communications, engagement and outreach: We celebrate events such as the D -D celebrations and invite local armed forces champions into our home such as the then Lancaster Mayor Rob Denison to meet with our residents. Health: As part of joining the veteran friendly framework we also let our local gp, bay medical group know about our status. Housing: We house many veterans within our home. Education: Staff and family members are educated about veteran support as part of their training onboarding process and there are posters throughout the home signalling access to educational resources for veterans. Civic responsibilities: We work closely with cqc to see that our veterans get the best care and support available to them. Any additional commitment the organisation wishes to make. We are the second home in Lan-cashire to become part of the Veteran Friendly Framework. Doing so required a lengthy onboard-ing application process which signalled all the extra work we do for our veteran residents which I have sent through separately. We have many commitments to the armed forces and to the fu-ture support of our veterans residents and staff within our home.

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.