Several of the charities supported through the Air Community Investment Fund include charities who work to support those serving in the military, veterans and their families.
AFC Fylde Armed Forces Support Officer
Together with The Veteran's Foundation, our donation to AFC Fylde Community Foundation helps fund a dedicated role with the charity to provide serving and ex-service personnel from across the Fylde Borough access to a host of care and support services.
Lee (pictured), a veteran himself took up the role with AFC Fylde Community Foundation two years ago and works to support those leaving the military and veterans, adjust to civilian life after service. This inolves careers guidance and CV support alongside mental health support through breakfast clubs and weekly football sessions.
A number of Air Sector employees volunteer through the employee VetNet group and support the breakfast clubs and football sessions.
Leyland Veteran's Café
Since 2019, BAE Systems has supported the Leyland Veteran's Café, which provides hot breakfasts and friendly faces to veterans and serving members local to Leyland. The café opens its doors twice a month, providing a safe space for members to meet, reminisce, get signposted for support and make new friends. Aiming to provide a lifeline to those who are isolated or have lost their military connections, the café recently celebrated it's sixth birthday and aspires to keep going for many more years to come. The café is located at Hall4All, Moss Lane, Leyland.
Mission Motorsport
In November 2022 BAE Systems donated £12,000 to Mission Motorsport in Wigan. The Charity seeks to help those affected by military operations (physically or mentally) by engagement through motorsport. The charity hosts monthly motorsport meetings at The Three Sisters Circuit in Wigan, where members have the opportunity to learn new skills and work as a team to engineer and race a racing-car.
BAE Systems employee, Peter, regularly volunteers as an armed forces ally and is really entusuastic about how something so simple has the power to change someone’s life.
Armed Forces Covenant
MoD Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award
In 2013, we were the first Defence Company to sign the UK Armed Forces Covenant. BAE Systems was also one of the first six winners of the MoD Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, which recognises an organisation’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant. We are proud to have held this status continuously since the Scheme began in July 2014.
VETNET
Our UK employee resource group
Set up and run by employees, the VetNet employee resource group offers camaraderie and support to BAE Systems employees who served in the armed forces as well as employees who are also reservists.