We’re proud to share that First Kick Foundation has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, strengthening our commitment to supporting serving personnel, veterans, reservists, Service children and Armed Forces families across the communities we work in.

Signing the Armed Forces Covenant is our promise to recognise the contribution made by the Armed Forces Community and to help ensure that those who serve, have served, and their families are treated fairly and can access opportunities without disadvantage.

For us, this commitment closely reflects what First Kick Foundation is all about: creating opportunities, strengthening communities and helping people feel supported, included and able to thrive.

Supporting the Armed Forces Community Through Our Four Strategic Pillars

Our commitment to the Armed Forces Community will be embedded across our four strategic pillars: Young Futures, Positive Pathways, Inclusive Communities and Healthy Lives.

Through these pillars, we will use sport, youth work, mentoring, employability support, wellbeing activities and community programmes to help members of the Armed Forces Community connect with others, develop new opportunities and feel a sense of belonging within their local area.

Young Futures.

Through Young Futures, we support children and young people to build confidence, develop positive relationships and access opportunities within their communities.

We recognise that children from Service families can experience unique challenges, particularly when families relocate to a new area. Through our youth clubs, mentoring, sport and wider youth programmes, we want to help Service children settle into their communities, make new connections and thrive.

Positive Pathways.

Our Positive Pathways work focuses on helping people move towards positive futures through personalised employability, education, training and development support.

As part of our Armed Forces Covenant commitment, we will offer employability support, mentoring and work-readiness opportunities to veterans and Service spouses or partners.

Inclusive Communities.

Our Inclusive Communities pillar is about creating stronger, more connected communities where everyone feels welcome and has opportunities to participate.

We will ensure that members of the Armed Forces Community can access our wider community programmes without disadvantage, while working with local Armed Forces networks, Covenant partnerships and organisations across Lancashire to strengthen connections and identify opportunities to work together.

Healthy Lives.

Through Healthy Lives, we use physical activity, sport and wellbeing opportunities to help people lead healthier, happier and more connected lives.

We will continue to create inclusive opportunities for Armed Forces children, young people, veterans and families to get active, meet others and improve their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

More Than Signing a Pledge

Our commitment goes beyond signing the Armed Forces Covenant.

We will support and promote key events including Armed Forces Day, Reserves Day and Remembrance activities, while helping our staff and volunteers develop a greater understanding of the Armed Forces Community.

We will also promote our Armed Forces Covenant commitment through our website, social media and community networks, helping raise awareness of the support available and encouraging positive engagement with the Armed Forces Community.

“It Formalises Something First Kick Already Believes In”

Ria, Head of Foundation at First Kick Foundation, said:

“Signing the Armed Forces Covenant formalises something First Kick already believes in. Service families move around, and that shouldn’t mean their children miss out on settling in and belonging.

“Our commitment is to make sure the Armed Forces Community can access everything we do, without disadvantage.”

Building Stronger Communities Together

Signing the Armed Forces Covenant represents another important step in our work to make First Kick Foundation’s programmes as accessible, inclusive and welcoming as possible.

Whether it is helping a Service child settle into a new community, supporting a veteran towards employment, giving a family opportunities to become more active together or simply creating a space where someone can meet new people and feel that they belong, we want the Armed Forces Community to know that First Kick Foundation is here for them.