Liverpool Football Club’s charity, Liverpool FC Foundation, today [Sunday 4th May 2014] sealed its commitment to the Armed Forces community by signing the Ministry of Defence Armed Forces Corporate Covenant.

The Corporate Covenant is a voluntary pledge made by businesses and charitable organisations who wish to publically demonstrate their support for the Armed Forces community.

All Corporate Covenants include a core statement of commitment to the two key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are; no member of the armed forces community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen and in some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate, especially for the injured or bereaved.

Head of Operations at the Foundation, Mark Haig, signed the document alongside Brigadier Chris Coles at the Foundation's Military Veterans weekly training session at Liverpool Football Club's Academy in Kirkby.

Liverpool FC Foundation delivers a successful Military Veterans Programme in the local community, helping to re-engage ex-military service men and women with physical activity and recapture their spirit of service and comradeship.

The established programme, which uses football as a platform, delivers a range of initiatives including; weekly football and coaching sessions, 11-a-side games, veterans' football tournaments, a 5-a-side football league and a popular comedy course.

Through these accessible and engaging initiatives, the programme promotes health, education and re-employment opportunities, enhances confidence, self-belief and general well-being and provides a pathway to a range of support services offered by the Merseyside Military Veterans Programme.

Mark Haig, Head of Operations at Liverpool FC Foundation, said: "Our Military Veterans Programme engages with over 100 local ex-service personnel each week, helping them to make a smooth transition back into civilian life.

"I am really proud to sign the corporate covenant on behalf of the Foundation and reinforce our ongoing commitment to working alongside and supporting as many local veterans as possible."

Defence Minister Anna Soubry added: "Our Armed Forces represent the very best in society so I am very pleased Liverpool FC Foundation has joined the Corporate Covenant. These commitments will make a real difference to the lives of the local Armed Forces community and I hope this inspires other sports clubs' charities across the country to do their bit to support the Armed Forces in any way they can."