Y o u a n d t h e R A F Task Force
We do understand, really we do… From the perspective of families by the waterfront, MoD may seem to be a distant monolith. It has said that working here is like mating elephants – everything is done with much trumpeting at a very high level and it takes two years to see the results. But, unlike every other government ministry, MoD is staffed by people who have been there and done it. Over a third of MoD staff are serving personnel and because we only recruit into the bottom of the pyramid you can be sure that they have all worked their way up from the bottom. When you experience a problem, the chances are that someone else has been there before you and there is already a known solution. So don’t be afraid to ask for help, the system is there to give it.
Every policy maker tries to be pro-active to improve things before you at the waterfront experience a problem. There are two different approaches: the negative approach is to look for what is wrong and try to put it right, the positive approach is to look for what is good and build on in to improve life. In practice
there has to be a bit of both. I would just like to mention two areas where we are trying to make life easier for you.
From Hairdressing to travel Are you feeling the pinch? Although being in the Services is a relatively secure job we are not immune from rising prices but there are a number of ways that we can help ourselves. Are you aware of the Forces Discount Brochure? When did you last look at it? www.
forcesdiscounts-mod.co.uk. There are currently 1,363 discount offers with more being added every day. They cover almost every aspect of life from hairdressing to solicitors, from computers to travel with both national offers and local ones too. You will have to browse through the list to see what will help you but as an example, I saved over £4000 off the cost of a new car thanks to the discount brochure.
Getting away But there are other savings to be had: Do you need another holiday? The China Fleet Country Club near Saltash in Cornwall was originally set up in Hong Kong over a hundred years ago
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Purdy from the Directorate of Service Personnel Policy updates us on the work of the Service Families Task Force.
to benefit the serving ratings and other ranks of the Royal Navy. When Hong Kong station closed the club moved back to the UK and built new facilities, which opened in 1991. The trust continues to serve not only those serving but their immediate families too, who are all members by right. Moreover the crèche is Ofsted registered so you should be able to use your childcare vouchers there. See www.
china-fleet.co.uk for more details. But also check the Army and RAF websites as the other Services also have recreational and adventure training facilities that are available for families use and like the China Fleet Club also have self catering accommodation specifically for families.
Starting a family
On the policy front we are about to go to print with policy guidance on providing stability for couples seeking IVF and other forms of assisted conception treatment. For those who are unlucky enough to need help with conception we will do our best to make sure that Service life does not hamper their efforts to start a family.
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Autumn 2009
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