RAF Families Federation

Are you Serving in the RAF? Are you 'Single'?

We want to hear about your experience, so we can advocate on your behalf!

Take part in our Service Evaluation > https://bit.ly/465LjCj

Closes 9th September

RAF HIVE

Ali and Ian are at the RAF Benson Families Day today, sharing the message of what the RAF Families Federation can do to support and advise personnel and families - pop by for a chat, and grab a freebie 😀

Happy International Youth Day🌍

Thanks to Nosy Crow & Barrington Stoke we have two fantastic books to GIVEAWAY. We have Bird Boy by Catherine Bruton & Angel of Grasmere by Tom Palmer. Both books 9+.

This giveaway is for serving, veteran, and ex-service (due to separation or divorce) families. For the chance to win one of these books, please complete this form by midnight on Thursday 15th August.

https://www.readingforce.org.uk/book-giveaways/
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲.
Overseas families are welcome to enter with a BFPO address.
The winners will be picked out of a hat.
Good luck 🤩📚

Army HIVE RAF HIVE Naval Families FederationRAF Families FederationArmy Families Federation - AFF

Lots of you have contacted us about the proposed VAT on school fees!

If you will be affected, we want to hear from you > https://bit.ly/4dqr6JG

We will be submitting a response to a Government consultation on this change, and we want to ensure everyone’s voices can be heard on this matter.

Our RAF News eBulletin is out now - read it here: https://bit.ly/3SNqK8g

In it you will find:
▶️ Early Years childcare funding overseas
▶️ Results Day is looming!
▶️ For when a break is needed

Subscribe here > https://bit.ly/3yrvGrT
RAF HIVE

Results Day is looming!

If you are nervously pacing the floor you should check out our Summer Edition of Envoy, where Education Policy Advisor shares her top tips for Results Day.

Read what she has to say > https://bit.ly/4eUDwuS

DIY SOS is on the hunt for UK families for the next series!

If you are an RAF family in need of help from Nick and the 'purple shirt' team see below 👇

Applications > https://bbc.in/4fAG41N

Based overseas with young children?
Find out if you can benefit from an expansion to funded childcare >
https://bit.ly/46Hqm0x

Ali and Maria are all set up for the RAF Odiham Families Day!

It's windy so the guy ropes are out, but busy already and the sun has just come out....hopefully we will see lots of you later.

Are you finding it tough?

The Royal Air Forces Association offers free online mental wellbeing courses to help members of the RAF community develop the skills necessary for tackling the issues you and those you love might face.

More information and book > https://bit.ly/4cL0lQf

Our RAF News eBulletin is out now - read it here: https://bit.ly/3WUOERM

In it you will find:
▶️ Guidance for dual-serving parents on registering a child with an NHS GP
▶️ Have your say: VAT on school fees
▶️ Do you have appropriate insurances?

RAF HIVE

Are you serving in the RAF? Are you 'single'? We want to hear from you!

Tell us your experience > https://bit.ly/465LjCj

RAF HIVE

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) has launched a specialist and targeted funding programme to support people who have been affected by domestic abuse within the serving Armed Forces community.

The Free from Fear programme will award a small number of targeted grants to projects that can show how they will reduce the impact of, or support initiatives that will have a long-term effect in the prevention of, domestic abuse within serving Armed Forces communities... https://bit.ly/3WTkKgK RAF HIVE

Summer is here 🌞 and Pinnacle Service Families has created new guidance for the summer months in your Service Family Accommodation, and how to respond should any issues arise.
- Home safety
- Barbecue safety
- Pest guidance
View the Summer Tips from Pinnacle > https://bit.ly/3S1YYV5

Are you part of a dual-serving family? Have you had problems registering your children with an NHS GP?

New guidance has been released the NHS Armed Forces Commissioning Team in response to us highlighting the challenges you have experienced.

View the guidance here >

Registering a child with an NHS GP < RAF Families Federation An example of how advocacy makes a difference: registering a child with an NHS GP We have received a large number of cases from dual-serving families highlighting challenges with registering children at an NHS GP surgery for parents registered with Defence Medical Services. Additionally, challenges....

You'll have to be quick with this one...

Saturday Giveaway! 🥳🤩

We have... The Great Monster Hunt by Norbet Landa (3+), Unicorn Club (3+) by Suzy Senior, Blamehounds by Jess Collins (7+ dyslexia friendly), Buttons the Runaway Puppy by Holly Webb (7+), The Witches by Roald Dahl (11+), Hide and Seek by Rhian Tracey (11+) and Not a Good look by C L Tompsett (11+ dyslexia friendly). For the chance to win one of these books, please complete this form by midnight on Monday 5th August.

https://www.readingforce.org.uk/book-giveaways/

𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲.
Overseas families are welcome to enter with a BFPO address.
The winners will be picked out of a hat.
Good luck 🤩📚

Army HIVERAF HIVERAF Families FederationArmy Families Federation - AFFNaval Families Federation

We've had a great week - we've been at RAF Cranwell, RAF Henlow and RAF Leeming meeting you and finding out about your experiences of military life.

We also had the opportunity to brief at the SWOs Conference - highlighting the work we do on behalf of the RAF family!

Congratulations to our colleagues at RAFAKidz on their nomination for two childcare awards
👏

RAFAKidz shortlisted for national childcare awards < RAF Families Federation RAFAKidz shortlisted for national childcare awards with recognition for two accolades that celebrate the achievements of those working in the childcare sector. RAFAKidz, a subsidiary of the RAF Association, has been shortlisted for the Nursery Group of the Year award at the prestigious Nursery World...

VAT on school fees - are you affected?

We will be submitting a response to a Government consultation on this change, and we want to ensure everyone’s voices can be heard on this matter.

For more details, and to have you say, visit:

https://www.raf-ff.org.uk/vat-changes-to-school-fees/

In the latest edition of Envoy meet our latest team member, Wendy Drysdale.

Wendy joins us having served in the RAF for 28 years, both as a regular and reservist. She talks of how she draws upon her experience of serving, as well as being a RAF spouse and a parent, to represent the RAF Family in her role as Evidence Officer.

Read it here > https://bit.ly/4f95sLZ
Subscribe to Envoy > https://bit.ly/3yrvGr

VAT changes to school fees:

You may have heard that the UK Government intends to put VAT on private school fees. This may impact on RAF families who currently use Continuity of Education Allowance to send children to boarding schools. The RAF Families Federation team will be submitting a response to a Government consultation on this change, and we want to ensure everyone’s voices can be heard on this matter.

Please take two minutes to give us your views on this change and whether you support it or not, to ensure everyone’s views are included (anonymously) in our response to the Government consultation. Click here to add your views via our ‘contact us’ function by Monday 2nd September: Contact Us < RAF Families Federation (raf-ff.org.uk)’

https://bit.ly/4dqr6JG

📣 Single RAF Service Evaluation 📣

We want to collect evidence that is representative of your experience, so we can advocate on your behalf!

❓Tell us about how your accommodation and allowances are managed.
❓Are there differences between the working lives of you and your married counterparts?

Tell us > https://bit.ly/465LjCj

RAF HIVE

Our RAF News eBulletin is out now - read it here: https://bit.ly/4dm7OVL

In it you will find:
▶️ Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body Report 2024
▶️ Have your say: Single RAF Personnel Service Evaluation
▶️ Meet the Team: Wendy Drysdale Evidence Officer at the RAFFF

Subscribe here > https://bit.ly/3yrvGrT

RAF HIVE

Have you heard of Yellow Days ?
Its a one-stop shop for booking children's activities - which could be useful for military families that undertake frequent moves.
It can cut the time spent searching, reviewing websites and completing multiple booking forms.
See poster for details 👇

🌞Don't forget about the Defence discounts available this summer! 🌞
Make savings on holidays, staycations, days out and more!
Find out about the discounts available here >

Get set for the summer holidays with Defence discounts < RAF Families Federation Summer finally appears to be here (well almost), and it's the perfect time to maximise your Defence discounts and plan a getaway with friends and family or enjoy some well-deserved 'me time.' Whether you're looking for days out, a staycation in the UK, or an adventure abroad, Defence Discount Servic...

Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body Report 2024 published. Recommendations from the AFPRB on Armed Forces’ remuneration and charges.

This report sets out the AFPRB’s analysis of evidence given by relevant organisations and makes recommendations for Armed Forces’ remuneration and charges. https://bit.ly/4dhCp7D RAF HIVE

Trust launches Armed Forces Covenant Fund: Service women: Seen & Heard programme for 2024/25. The Service women: Seen & Heard programme is now open for applications for one-year grants of up to £50,000 and two-year grants up to £100,000, for projects that aim to tackle issues enabling targeted support for serving women and giving access to support to which they can self-refer... https://bit.ly/4dneMtH RAF HIVE

Trust launches Armed Forces Covenant Fund: Service women: Seen & Heard programme for 2024/25 < RAF Families Federation The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has launched Service women: Seen and Heard Programme under the Covenant Fund exciting three-year Funding Framework. The Service women: Seen & Heard programme is now open for applications for one-year grants of up to £50,000 and two-year grants up to ...

Our top team of Mark and Chris will be at the RAF Marham Families Day today - they're on hand to offer support and advice to personnel and families, but they also have goody bags and plenty of freebies for our friends.

See you there 😎

Course for military parents on managing anxiety

Registration is now open for the next Anxiety Unravelled course for military parents and carers, delivered by Bounce Forward and funded by theArmed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

Details and registration > https://bit.ly/3SaraW1