Calling all RAF Reservists

Since June 2014, the RAF Families Federation now welcomes both RAF Reserve and single personnel to the fold. If you or a family member is a Reservist with us, please share how life is for you through... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Back to School

Summer is often a busy time for new postings, particularly for families with school age children. We would like hear of your experience in obtaining places for your child(ren). Good as well as bad. Reducing disadvantage to Armed Forces Families is a key principle of the Armed Forces Covenant and your thoughts will help us measure whether the Covenant is making a difference... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Problems obtaining credit is widespread for those in the RAF

Concern has been shown because personnel and family members find it difficult, or are unable to, obtain credit. Please help us build a case by sharing your experience (anonymously). Survey of only 6 questions... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Our stories in RAF News - Feeling the pinch

Results from our survey on pay, allowances and the quality of life show that families around the RAF are feeling the pinch... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

OUR QUICK SURVEY ON NEM - only 6 questions!

In this quick survey we are looking to gauge how in-depth is the understanding of the New Employment Model (NEM). All service personnel will be affected in some way by NEM which will update the Terms and Conditions of Service including pay, pensions, allowances and... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Read the conclusions you draw on RAF Pay in 2013

This evidence will now be presented to the AFPRB. The RAF FF Survey Report is now online... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

It is within your gift to empower negotiations

Gp Capt Clifford, reiterates the powerful message that completing online surveys and joining in with consultations, can send. In his latest letter to the Diaspora, Gp Capt Clifford, RAF High Wycombe Stn Cdr & Gp Capt US Visiting Forces, wrote... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Is the Armed Forces Covenant all it's cracked up to be?

Read your responses and the conclusions we draw. The RAF Families Federation Survey Report is now online... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Pay: What is your thinking?

Welcome to our survey asking for your views and comments on Pay & Quality of Life. This is YOUR chance to give YOUR opinions on PAY, Work/life balance, Service pension, Your own home, Leave entitlement, Deployment, Allowances, Debt and more... YOUR evidence will help inform the Armed Forces Pay Review Body when we present to them in the Autumn. Please complete this 5 minute survey TODAY! More information

Please tell us how effective you think the Armed Forces Covenant is by completing our quick online survey

This RAF FF survey focuses on the Armed Forces Covenant. The two key principles of the Covenant are that: The Armed Forces community should not face any disadvantage compared to others and that special consideration is appropriate in some instances. The 2012 Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report identified progress already been made towards removing disadvantages and outlines the steps...More information

Is the Covenant all its cracked up to be?

This survey builds on previous work on Armed Forces Covenant, enshrined Law and promising to deliver enhanced support to the Armed Forces community, including serving personnel, their families and veterans.

The Covenant made over 100 commitments to identify and address disadvantage arising from service and to provide special support to those bereaved or badly injured whilst serving.

The survey asks: 'Is the Covenant all its cracked up to be?' More information

Feeling out of the Loop...

The RAF FF survey on support to families is now available to view. This is the Federation's third major survey this year and will feed into the MoD-wide welfare study expected to run in early 13. It is also being used to inform Air Command Community Support staff and colleagues at SSAFA, the HIVE and other welfare organisations as to the quality of their service, as perceived by you, the customer. The report is full of comments received as well as the raw statistics so do take time to have a look.... “Unfortunately the RAF give no consideration to the fact that decisions they make always have an impact on dependents....“Airplay has been a life saver for our children... “Despite having POC I found myself very much alone... “I only feel like part of the RAF family because of my friendships with the other wives...More information »

Reporting your strong views to the AFPRB - Pay, Pensions etc

As part of the Federation's evidence-gathering activity, we ran a survey on the subject of ‘Pay, Pensions and Other Stuff’.Our reason for seeking views on these subjects was to inform the evidence we provide on your behalf to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. Our suspicions were that RAF personnel and their families were beginning to...More information »

The last week - Please add your vote!

We have so far received an enthusiastic response to our survey looking specifically at the support given to RAF Families - if you have not already voted we would really like to hear from you.  The RAF FF is preparing to engage with the RAF and those who provide welfare.  In this survey we explore the support that is available to RAF families. What do RAF families  expect?  Are these...Click here

Quick Vote

Quick Vote – Do you think there is enough support given to RAF Families? -If you have an opinion please complete our survey (green button on the right on home page) and write your comment(s) in the boxes provided. With thanks.  Click here

RAF Marham leads the Way - when it comes to giving Views!

We are asking RAF personnel and their family members to give their views on the Support available to RAF Families and at the moment it is RAF Marham that is leading the way. Marham have a very clear lead over RAF Brize Norton in second place and Boulmer in third. Of the overseas votes 71% have come from Denmark - thank you to Finderup for that impressive contribution. We hope more and more of you will help us shape the debate by giving your views before the survey closes at the end of Sep 12. It will only take a few minutes and your opinions will count. The important point is that the 21st Century RAF family comes in very many shapes and sizes. Some live on base, others do not; Some are married, others are not; Some have children others do not. So what type of support do these differing family members need and are these needs being met? Please add your voice by clicking the the green survey button...More information »

The New Director speaks to BFBS

Bill Mahon, the new Director of the RAF Families Federation, talks to Patrick Eade on BFBS about his new role, his view of the RAF Families Federation and the importance of Serving RAF personnel and their families completing the survey on Support given to RAF Families. THE SURVEY: Now open on our website, and for the 30 days of Sep, is the RAF FF survey ‘Support given to RAF Families’. The RAF FF is preparing to engage with the RAF and those who provide welfare and in this survey we explore the support available to members of RAF families. The 21st Century RAF family comes in all shapes and sizes. Many live on base, others do not. So what type of support do these differing family members need and are these needs met? Are serving personnel and families aware of the support already available? Our survey seeks to answer these questions and help the RAF develop welfare support for the future...More information »

Is the RAF Supporting its Families?

Open now, and for the 30 days of Sep 12, is the RAF FF survey ‘Support given to RAF Families’. The RAF FF is preparing to engage with the RAF and those who provide welfare support. The 21st Century RAF family comes in all shapes and sizes. Many live on base, others do not. So what type of support do these differing family members need and are these needs met? Are serving personnel and families aware of the support already available? Our survey seeks to answer these questions. As a serving member of the RAF or a close family member please add your voice… spouses, partners, children, siblings, parents, you all have views and we are interested to know what they are! We know from our work that personal views from the Service do influence MoD and Government thinking - it should only take 10 mins! Without you we have no voice... More information »

What the RAF FF Chairman has been telling the Minister

This week the three Service Families Federations had their 6-monthly Forum with the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare & Veterans, Andrew Robathan MP. The RAF FF Chairman, Dawn McCafferty took the opportunity to brief the Minister on current RAF family-related concerns including, Family Morale, Service Complaints, DIO and HASC issues and the RAF FF survey on Impact of the SDSR and the AF Covenant...More information »

The Federation's Latest Quarterly Report

Key activity this quarter has been the launch of our survey, aimed at gathering further evidence on the impact of the SDSR and the AF Covenant. Chairman of the RAF FF Dawn McCafferty said: The emerging theme is one of a lack of confidence in the post SDSR RAF, and a woeful lack of awareness of some of the key family-related Covenant commitments. Work is now focused on our survey – 'Pay, Pensions and Other Stuff'. Having trialled it with a lively audience of SWOs we are hopeful of a strong online response. In the midst of this work, we have continued to respond to calls for help and advice. Many are associated with the DIO Transformation and the difficulties SFA occupants experienced trying to access the new HASC...More information »