Over the past few months we have received evidence of issues for RAF
personnel and their families when obtaining loans, hire purchase
agreements, mortgages, unsecured credit... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link
Fri 1 Mar 13 sees the launch of the new RAF Families Federation website and mini site for smart phone and mobile device users.The new intuitive design offers a wealth of information at your finger tips. Never has it been easier to find exactly what you are looking for. Packed with the latest information, helping you and your family stay up to date with developments and news relevant to RAF serving personnel and their family members. Catch up on the latest from your Federation, find out what the RAF is up to, what the latest policy is and how development will affect you and your family. Explore our new website as a one stop shop for all you need to know about families issues. Read the latest articles in the RAF Families Federation magazine 'Envoy' both online and on the move. And now there is the RAF FF new mini site – perfect for your smart phone or mobile device. Take it anywhere. Click on the website tomorrow and see it for yoursel...More information »
Periodically in RAF News the Federation uses the evidence someone has
provided to illustrate a topic of concern. The cases illustrate where
policy is deemed as not quite fair or is outdated, or where there is
disadvantage purely because that someone is a member of an RAF family.
In this edition we hear from a family who were posted from Scotland to
England and were told their daughter's NHS Orthodontic treatment would
not continued to be supported in England. The family could either opt to
pay for the treatment themselves or have their daughter's braces
removed...More information »
It has been announced that the Service Pupil Premium is being extended
to state-maintained schools in England. Children of military personnel
who have died in service will be eligible and children of military
personnel will continue to qualify up to six year after their parents
have left the Armed Forces. The amount paid to schools for each eligible
child will increase to £300 in 2013-14. Let the school know by 17 Jan
13...More information »
Bill Mahon, Director of the RAF Families Federation, sat face to face
with the Armed Forces Review Body last week to put before them the case
for RAF families. The subject of pay and allowances is very close to
people's hearts and Bill was able to make a strong case, thanks to the
huge response to the Federation's survey conducted in June. Here Bill
speaks to Patrick Eade of BFBS Radio on what he said and how it was
received. Bill makes the point that it is only the three Families
Federations that get to see 'the whites of their eyes' as he put it, and
express directly the families view...More information
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 »
An outraged family member tells of her disgust at having her Dependant's
Pass taken from her by the RAF Police on the gate with no warning and
no explanation, only that the policy had changed and these passes were
no longer valid. She said: "I was made to feel very much like a
second-class citizen and it angered me and my serving husband in equal
measure, particularly in light of the years of support I have given to
the Service..." More info
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 – 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
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 »
In June the Prime Minister announced a review of childcare looking at how to reduce the costs for working families, and burdens on childcare providers, without compromising the safety or quality of provision. The charity 4Children are working with the Dept for Education and the Dept for Work and Pensions to help inform the review and are running a survey. 4Children ask if RAF families will contribute...More information »
Periodically in RAF News the Federation uses the evidence someone has provided to illustrate a topic of concern. The cases illustrate where policy is deemed as not quite fair or is outdated, or where there is disadvantage purely because that someone is a member of an RAF family. This case tells of an unhappy spouse who is worried enough to write to ask about the changes to Child Benefit payments. They wonder if the Government is really going to double punish supportive partners of the military who struggle to have careers and make pension contributions by taking away the entitlement to Child Benefit too. They already feel partners are penalised because most are only able to take up minor, low-paid jobs because of moves every 1-2 years – and are certainly not in a position to have two £40k incomes. They believe this is a serious disadvantage us in comparison to civilians...More information »
The RAF FF survey on the fallout of the SDSR and your thoughts on the Armed Forces Covenant will close on Monday (30 Apr). If you are serving in the RAF or are a family member of someone who is and haven't completed the questionnaire could we ask you to... The Federation is being asked more and more questions by senior RAF, MoD staffs and Ministers what RAF personnel and families think and one of the best ways of gathering your thoughts is via the internet. The survey is straight forward and anonymous and gives plenty of space for you to make additional comments should you wish to. Don't worry if you know nothing, or little, about these subjects - we are interested in your answers anyway... Please click on the 'For Survey Click here' button to participate...More information »
Andrew Robathan MP has visited the RAF Families Federation. The Minister was introduced to the team of eight staff who demonstrated how they gather evidence from family members and briefed the Minister on their plans for 2012. The Minister said: “I welcome the opportunity to visit the RAF Families Federation, and I value greatly the work that they do. I recognise it remains a very unsettling time for many Service families. As we continue to transform Defence, the advice of all three Families Federations will continue to play a very important part in the formulation of future policy and I pay tribute to the excellent work of everyone involved...More information »
Periodically in RAF News the Federation uses the evidence someone has provided to illustrate a topic of concern. The cases illustrate where policy is deemed as not quite fair or is outdated, or where there is disadvantage purely because that someone is a member of an RAF family. This time we feature a frustrated physiotherapist on maternity leave who may be forced to pay back her maternity allowance, worth thousands of pounds, when her husband is posted. The lady concerned is required to return to work after one year in order to retain the allowance but has been advised there are no jobs available to her in the new location. Her husband has asked to retain the quarter they are in, for the period, enabling her to return to her current position but was told 'no'...More information »
2011 RAF Families Federation Annual Report has now been published. Last year was a challenging one for RAF personnel and their families and the Federation team has been kept extremely busy with the many issues family members bring to our attention. Gathering the evidence and presenting it all in the hope of influencing change for the better. Our report for 2011 focuses on the post Strategic Defence & Security Review era and the impact some of those decisions is beginning to have. We comment on the launch of the Armed Forces Covenant, acutely aware of the dichotomy posed by a Government that is seeking to simultaneously reduce its Armed Forces whilst demonstrating how much it recognises the unique nature of military life and values the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces community. The report details the core themes...More information »
Periodically in RAF News the Federation uses the evidence someone has provided to illustrate a topic of concern. The cases illustrate where policy is deemed as not quite fair or is outdated, or where there is disadvantage purely because that someone is a member of an RAF family. This time we feature a lady who has accompanied her husband on an overseas posting but now feels isolated and abandoned by the RAF. She says they were ill-prepared for the challenges that faced them and didn't realise how difficult it all would be...More information »
The Department of Education are keen to remind Service parents that the deadline for registering their child in order that their state funded school in England can claim the £200 pupil premium is drawing closer. Registration must be made at the school by Thu 19 Jan 12...More information »
