HSU Pledges its Commitment to the Armed Forces Community
Health Sciences University (HSU) is proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a national voluntary pledge to support the Armed Forces community.
The Covenant was signed at a special event held at the HSU Bournemouth’s campus on Parkwood Road, where HSU staff were joined by The Commanding Officer of The Royal Wessex Yeomanry, Lt Col Anthony Sharman, and invited guests.
Health Sciences University (HSU) is proud to have formally pledged its support for the Armed Forces community by signing the Armed Forces Covenant – a national voluntary commitment to ensure fair treatment for those who serve or have served in the UK Armed Forces and their families.
The signing ceremony took place at HSU’s Bournemouth Campus on Parkwood Road and was attended by key members of the university and distinguished guests, including the Commanding Officer of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, Lt Col Anthony Sharman.
Guests who came together to witness and celebrate the formal signing of the Armed Forces Covenant were:
- Tom Hayes, MP for Bournemouth East
- Emily Kadoch, Armed Forces Careers Office (Dorset)
- Amy Walton, BCP Council
- Nicholas Harper, Dorset County Council
- Michael Betteridge, veteran entrepreneur representative
- Rob Hornby, NHS BCP Armed Forces Advocate
- John McBride, We Are With You Veterans Group
- Tracy Poole, Estate Manager, Bournemouth War Memorial Homes
- Julie Robinson and Charlotte Wright, Dorset Veterans NHS
- George Farquhar, Mayor of Bournemouth & BCP Councillor
- Cllr Patrick Caravan, Boscombe West Ward
- The Adjutant of RM Poole
- Chair of SBSA Poole
- Rob Munro, NHS Armed Forces Community Representative
- Gillian Martin, BCP Council
In signing the Covenant, HSU commits to ensuring that the Armed Forces community is offered fair access to all of its services, and helps ensure that members of the community are treated with fairness and respect.
HSU’s commitments include:
- Being an Armed Forces community friendly employer
- Proud to offer a veteran support programme in our onsite clinics, including special discounts for our veterans
- We offer courses designed to meet the needs of the healthcare workforce that are attractive and suitable to members of the Armed Forces community
- We recognise all relevant skills and qualifications presented by applicants in our selection processes
Professor Lesley Haig explains: “We recognise that Service life can impact the Armed Forces community in different ways. That’s why we want to ensure that the community is not disadvantaged in accessing any of our services, whether that is applying for a job at HSU, accessing one of our clinical services, or enrolling on one of our courses.”
Professor Lesley Haig continued: “With our core values of being caring, professional, passionate and inclusive, supporting the Armed Forces Covenant is a natural alignment for HSU.
“We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces community and agree to uphold its principles – to be an Armed Forces-friendly organisation to our staff, students, patients, and the wider public.”
Robert Gibson, member of staff at HSU and veteran, said: “I’m delighted that HSU has signed the Armed Forces Covenant. This Covenant is a commitment to support and aid both veterans from previous generations who were committed to defend and fight for our freedoms, and for those who continue to do so.”
