Royal Voluntary Service
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 Royal Voluntary Service 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 Royal Voluntary Service 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 Reservists
- UK Cadets
We also pledge the following:

Employment Support Reservists by offering them additional days of unpaid annual leave in order to carry out their duties. Offer additional (unpaid) annual leave to Cadet Force Adult Volunteers to help them carry out their training requirement. Work with relevant charities and the Career Transition Partnership to offer work opportunities to the Wounded, Injured and Sick. Communications, engagement and outreach Provide and/or promote training, such as e-learning, for your staff on the Armed Forces Community. Promote the Armed Forces Covenant, the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and your support for the Armed Forces Community to your staff, customers/service users, supply chains and the wider public. Support or promote Armed Forces events, such as Armed Forces Day/Week, Reserves Day and Remembrance activities. Use the Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme logos in relevant communications and marketing. Create a dedicated Armed Forces page on your website. https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/about-us/services-welfare Signpost members of the Armed Forces Community to available support, for example from Cobseo, the Veterans Gateway or statutory services in your area. Run, facilitate or promote support networks (such as coffee mornings, breakfast clubs) for veterans and other members of the Armed Forces Community. Engage with any local Armed Forces presence for example, local Army units, reservist units, RAF stations and/or naval bases. Develop relationships and work collaboratively with other organisations supporting the Covenant and the Armed Forces Community in your locality/region. Communications, engagement and outreach Ensure the Armed Forces Community has fair access to your services and is not put at a disadvantage by their service, for example as a result of their high mobility. Housing Promote awareness of housing and homelessness services among the Armed Forces Community. Education Support the Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme for current employees by offering paid time off to complete workshops and learning events Civic responsibilities Organise, facilitate, promote and/or take part in remembrance and other ceremonial activities

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.