E d i t o r / C h a i r m a n
EDITOR’S words W
elcome to the Autumn issue of Envoy, the magazine for serving RAF personnel and their families. We hope you find it an interesting
read. Te magazine would be nothing without you and I would like to say a big thank you to all those who have made contributions. Do feel free to contact me if you would like to write something, I am always open to suggestions!
The Federation belongs to you and is there to represent your views, so please do engage with us. There is a dedicated ‘Have Your Say’ box on the website at
www.raf-ff.org.uk where you
A
s I write, I am eagerly awaiting a family holiday in Spain but by the time this goes to print, I’ll be back at
the desk with a fading tan and Summer holidays but a distant memory. It’s all downhill to Xmas now! Whilst many will have taken the chance to recharge batteries and enjoy some family time, our thoughts go out to those who have been deployed on ops throughout the world and we wish you all a safe reunion with your loved ones.
This Autumn promises much in the way of major announcements – the Strategic Defence & Security Review should report its key findings and, simultaneously, the Government is aiming to publish its plans for ‘Rebuilding the Military Covenant’. As a member of the External Reference Group tasked with monitoring the Task Force appointed to inform the Covenant work, we have been keen to ensure that the principles of the Service Personnel Command Paper endure and that
can give details of a problem you have encountered or send a simple email expressing your views on anything related to your life as part of a RAF family. Hopefully together we can make family life in the RAF that little bit better and a little less hassle.
Good reading. The Editor
From the Chairman
disadvantage caused by military service is removed wherever possible.
We continue to influence at the highest levels and family members can rest assured that the new ministerial team are fully aware of the independent role we play in representing your views. Where possible, we are being consulted on emerging policy but I have expressed my concern at the pace at which the work is being taken forward, with limited time for meaningful consultation and even less time to step back and really think about the consequences of the decisions being taken in the corridors of power. But it was ever thus!
All we can do is continue to seek evidence from you and place that in front of the policy-makers in the hope of shaping the future from a family perspective. Our main source of evidence remains our interactive workshops and, whilst attendance levels have varied, we are on target for better data than last year and we’ve definitely enhanced
the capture of quality anecdotes which add colour and depth to the statistics. These are really important when I’m standing in front of senior officials or
a Minister as a real case brings the issue to life and helps those who may be somewhat removed from RAF family life to really understand the challenges you face.
If you’ve yet to attend a workshop, please come along and vote on those issues of most importance to you, be that childcare, housing, pay, op tempo, employment or definition of family. We will be using your evidence to create a formal Evidence Report at the end of the year and who knows, we may even quote you if you opt to join us! As we’ve said before, without your views, we have no voice, so do contribute so that we can help the policy staffs understand what makes RAF families tick and, just as importantly, what ticks them off!
The Federation is there for You T
he RAF Families Federation is here to represent the concerns of RAF personnel and their families on the issues that affect the RAF family. We operate
entirely outside the RAF chain of command, so we can always promise an independent and confidential service.
By gathering the facts, we put your views and concerns in front of the people who matter, such as senior RAF and MoD staffs and Ministers. Influencing change, where it is needed, for the better.
4 Autumn 2010
So whether you’re in uniform yourself, a spouse, a partner, a parent, a child or a sibling of a member of the RAF, we are here to act on your behalf.
And do remember that if you don’t regularly get to see a copy of Envoy you can request your own copy. We will send each issue free of charge. There is a registration link on the website, you can call the Federation on 01780 781650 or email:
enquiries@raf-ff.org.uk
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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