Bay Tree Cookery Academy C.I.C
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 Bay Tree Cookery Academy C.I.C 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 Bay Tree Cookery Academy C.I.C 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 Service Spouses And Partners
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Discounts
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:

Service Spouses & Partners: supporting the employment of Service spouses and partners by planning and operating ongoing accessible family and friends events which provide attendees with a sense of purpose and community. This includes family cookery workshops and organising community events such as team building. Cadet Organisations: supporting all military and ex-military personnel and the families who are in any way connected to a cadet organisation and ensuring volunteer opportunities, industry experience and training is made available to local military cadet units. We will maintain local contacts to offer support with events. National Events: our work with organisations such as Tom Harrison House and Veterans HQ has proven how important it is to create new traditions around events such as Armed Forces Day, Reserves Day, the Poppy Appeal Day and Remembrance activities, which are often associated with alcohol. As a supporter of veterans dealing with addiction, we have and will continue to invest our time and resources into offering alternative ways of marking important calendar dates that are inclusive, engaging and enable military personnel and their families to celebrate their history and achievements. Armed Forces Charities: supporting Armed Forces charities with fundraising and supporting staff who volunteer to assist; Bay Tree Cookery Academy CIC has worked tirelessly to reach as many Armed Forces personnel as possible and to create and provide robust educational and support programmes to suit their specific and often challenging needs. We fully support Armed Forces Charities with event catering in which volunteers are trained by a qualified chef and hospitality expert, gaining real industry experience and building their confidence. Commercial Support: offering a discount to members of the Armed Forces community; the future expansion strategy will see Bay Tree Cookery Academy CIC open a permanent teaching space within the Liverpool area which will offer military personnel, veterans and their families the opportunity to learn in a specially designed, accessible working kitchen, with hospitality space and gain qualifications while building their own communities. Commercial discounts and on-going support will enable more people to integrate into civilian life with purpose.

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.