Cumbria Trust signs Armed Forces Covenant
An NHS trust in north Cumbria has signed the Armed Forces Covenant pledging its support to the Armed Forces Community.
The Armed Forces Covenant is about fair treatment. For most of the Armed Forces community, the Covenant is about removing disadvantage; so that they get the same access to services as the civilian community.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust signed the covenant at a ceremony with dignitaries and invited guests today (Tuesday, April 25) and agreed to uphold its principles.
Lyn Simpson, Chief Executive of NCIC, said: "We are honoured to sign the covenant and are proud to support our Armed Forces Community. We recently set up an Armed Forces Staff Network so we can understand more about the needs of the armed forces community and I look forward to seeing the work develop in the future."
Teresa Griffiths, Chair of the Armed Forces Working Group at NCIC, said: "We are honoured, and it is a real privilege to be at the event today. We are fully committed and are really excited to start our journey.
"As a Working Group and Trust we are passionate about really making a difference for our armed forces community and also working together with other organisations across Cumbria to provide the support and services that this community both require and deserve."
The Armed Forces Covenant sets out the relationship between the nation, the government and the Armed Forces. It recognises that the whole nation has a moral obligation to members of the Armed Forces and their families, and it establishes how they should expect to be treated.
The Covenant’s two principles are that:
• the Armed Forces community should not face disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services in the area where they live;
• special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
By signing the covenant, NCIC recognises the value that serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to the organisation, and to our country.
NCIC has pledged to promote that it is armed forces-friendly and will support the employment of veterans, recognising military skills and qualifications in the recruitment and selection process.