Sponsored by Exforplus
https://www.exforplus.org/
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16 Jul 21. 140 UK companies honoured for outstanding support towards the Armed Forces. 140 organisations have received the Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award for their outstanding support towards the Armed Forces community, Defence Minister Leo Docherty announced today.
Representing the highest badge of honour, Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards are awarded to those that employ and support those who serve, veterans and their families.
This year’s awardees brings the total number of Gold holders to 493.
Minister for Defence People and Veterans, Leo Docherty said, “I would like to thank all the organisations who have proven their support for the Defence community during such unprecedented and challenging times. The vast range of those recognised this year demonstrates how employing the Armed Forces community makes a truly positive and beneficial impact for all employers, regardless of size, sector or location.”
To win an award, organisations must provide 10 extra paid days leave for Reservists and have supportive HR policies in place for veterans, Reserves, and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, as well as spouses and partners of those serving in the Armed Forces.
Organisations must also advocate the benefits of supporting those within the Armed Forces community by encouraging others to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and engage in the Employer Recognition Scheme.
This year, organisations include NHS trusts, educational institutions, financial services, hotels, charities, law firms, police services, football clubs and museums. Nearly 50 per cent are a small or medium-sized enterprises and 72 per cent are private companies, demonstrating the wide range of organisations offering support to the military community regardless of size, sector or location.
Daniel Frumkin, Chief Executive Officer at Metro Bank said:
I am absolutely delighted that Metro Bank has been recognised with this prestigious award. We are dedicated in our commitment to support both those that currently serve and those that have served our country including veterans, reservists and forces’ families, as well as the communities in which they reside. Metro Bank will continue to honour and support this special community.
Rob Robson, Director of Levertech said, “Everyone at Levertech is delighted to be awarded Gold in the UK Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. We are proud of our record of working together as a business to support the Armed Forces community, be that through policies aimed at our Reservist and veteran employees, donations to military charities, or sharing our commitment to the scheme with our team, our clients and our supply chain. We recognise the knowledge, transferable skills and comradery that Veterans and Reservists bring to our company and their contribution to wider society. We are determined to continue to improve the support we provide and increase our wider advocacy for the Armed Forces Community.”
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
15 Jul 21. SSAFA announced the launch of a new podcast service called SSAFA Chatter. This is a brand new collection of podcasts and videos for all Armed Forces community members, whether serving, veterans or families. You can find more information about this new service below.
Today also marks the launch of the SSAFA Impact Report 2020 which breaks down exactly what SSAFA achieved last year.
For those looking for adventure, we are pleased to announce that some London Marathon places have become available on Team SSAFA, whilst our partners, Haven Holidays, are offering an exclusive 10% discount for our supporters on vacations this summer.
We like to thank you for your continued support of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. We hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter.
09 Jul 21. Armed Forces Bill: Military Charities Urge Government To Strengthen Legislation. National Government will not be legally obliged to consider the military community in decision-making under the current bill. Twelve of the UK’s forces charities have signed an open letter to the Government, claiming the Armed Forces Bill “does not go far enough” in protecting the military community.
The legislation aims to see the Armed Forces Covenant enshrined in law and introduce a legal duty for certain UK public bodies, including local councils, to have due regard for the covenant principles – a pledge to ensure the military community isn’t disadvantaged by its service.
If passed, the legislation would currently impact decision-making across housing, education and healthcare issues, while special consideration may be deemed appropriate for certain community members, such as for the injured or bereaved.
While the charities say they “welcome” new provisions which will improve service members’ access to services, they said the exemption of national Government and devolved administrations from that duty is a “major gap”.
They added in their open letter: “This is compounded by the omission of important topics including employment, pensions, compensation, social care, criminal justice, and immigration from the bill’s scope.”
Introduced to the House of Commons in January this year, the bill’s overarching purpose is to renew the Armed Forces Act 2006 for the next five years.
Jeff Harrison, Interim CEO of Combat Stress, a charity that helps veterans with their mental health, said the scope of the bill seemed “strange”.
“We’re a health-based charity, a mental health-based charity, so it’s pleasing that our part is in there – but there are plenty of areas that aren’t in there, ones that were in the covenant,” he told Forces News.
“Things like compensation and pensions, immigration and the criminal justice system – those are areas that we shouldn’t miss out on.
“Our worry really is that you don’t get this opportunity very often,” he said, adding that “recognition” of sacrifice is important to the forces.
Matthew Seward, of the Royal British Legion, has encouraged those in support of the open letter to contact their local MP, insisting the bill must be broad enough to future-proof it for future issues.
Andy Pike, head of policy and research at the Royal British Legion said the legislation “doesn’t go far enough” and does little to help those recruited from Commonwealth countries bring their family with them to the UK.
A “minimum income threshold” set by the Home Office clashes with military pay, he said – resulting in years of wait times to reunite personnel with loved ones.
“Then, when they leave, they’ll be faced with indefinite leave to remain fees to get settled status and that comes with a £2,500 price tag,” he added.
Among other amendments to the bill is one to ensure serious offences such as murder and rape are dealt with in the civil justice system, while another proposes to create a new independent body to oversee complaints about the Service Police.
An MOD spokesperson said:
“We have the utmost respect and appreciation for military charities and the excellent work they do in supporting the Armed Forces community.
“The Armed Forces Bill delivers for our service personnel and veterans by, for the first time ever, strengthening the Covenant into law and supporting our Armed Forces community when it comes to key matters such as housing, healthcare and education.” (Source: forces.net)
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ExFor+ CIC is a relatively new organisation but has been established with the objective of becoming a National overarching organisation within the Veterans Support Sector. Our aim is to bring about, positive Social and Economic change for the country as well as a significant
transformation of how Service leavers, Veterans, their families and communities are supported. We will do this through effective collaboration, communication and management of a number of services and departments, ranging from engaging with Government, The Third sector and also the supporters of, those who’ve served and often sacrificed so much for their country. We are currently supporting a number of service leavers and veterans with a range of issues ranging from housing, unemployment, benefits, personal development, education, and are constantly looking for employers who see the positives in recruiting and supporting individuals in to work to create longterm and sustainable futures.
www.InvestorsInVeterans.com
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