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F o r e w o r d


From the Chairman man W T 2


elcome to this our first edition of Envoy and thank you for showing an interest in the Federation. The RAF


Families Federation is your Federation and it has been created to represent the views and concerns of RAF families to those who can make a difference.


So what can I say in this first article about the Federation? First, it would be remiss of me if I did not pay tribute to our predecessor organisation Airwaves and thank Nyree Roxburgh and her team for all their advice as we set out to build on the firm foundations they laid over the past 13 years or so. I also pay tribute to the RAF Community Support staffs at Air Command for their hard work behind the scenes in helping us establish the new contract, and to the many staff at RAF Wittering, who have taken us under their wing and provided us with all sorts of practical help in setting up the Head Office. Finally, I highlight the support offered by the Royal Air Forces Association, our parent charity, without whom we could not function.


So what happens now? Well the five Federation staff stand ready to gather evidence about the many issues


causing concern to RAF families. We will then convert that evidence into meaningful reports that we hope will influence senior staffs in the RAF, MOD and even Government, as they consider new policies that will impact on military families. Adding our voice to those already emanating from the Naval and Army Federations, we intend to deliver a powerful message that the Armed Forces’ Terms and Conditions of Service, as they apply to military families, are key to the recruitment and retention of uniformed personnel and that policies that take into account families’ needs and aspirations can only make the front-line more effective.


So how will we do this? Providing an effective 2-way flow of information between the RAF and its families is a key part of our work and we will be keeping up-to-date with policy developments as well as visiting units on a regular basis to ensure our finger is firmly on the pulse of RAF families.


Without the support of the RAF families, this Federation will not survive 'first contact with the enemy'; by that I mean all those irritating rules and procedures that combine to add stress to the RAF lifestyle and make life more difficult for families than it already is. So we hope that by reading this


magazine, visiting our website or contacting our hotline, you will feel empowered to make your views known – do get in touch – we are looking forward to hearing from you!


Finally, we would welcome feedback on this magazine and would be more than happy to hear your views as to how we can improve the next edition. In this edition, we tried to achieve a balance between articles that might appeal to the serving family members and those that might appeal more to the non-uniformed members – wives, partners, parents, siblings, etc. We are conscious that we have a large and diverse audience to reach via this medium and we hope that you will all find something of interest in this edition. If not, let us know what we have missed and we will try to include it next time. Good, bad or indifferent – tell us what you think and we will do our best to meet your needs – after all, it’s your magazine and we want you to read it.


From the Secretary of State for Defence


his publication of the first copy of Envoy marks an important step in the introduction of the new RAF Families Federation. Tat it comes at Christmas makes it all the more


timely. Tese are busy times for all members of the Service community and I do not underestimate the impact on families, particularly for those with loved ones away at this time of year. I want to make sure that families have the support they need and I continue to look at how we can respond to that need. Our airmen on demanding operational duties around the world need to know that their families are being properly looked aſter. Tis is one of my top priorities and I take it very seriously.


We will work with the RAF Families Federation to resolve the issues that you raise through them. But also I want to make sure that families everywhere know about all the existing support that is available to them. Naturally, the new RAF Families Federation will play a big part in achieving that objective. Already I see the Federation making links with many of the excellent specialist support organisations and


Winter 2007


other staff that can help when help is needed. I am sure those links will grow stronger with time.


Christmas, as a time for families to be together, can be hard for those with someone away. The launch of the new RAF Families Federation is an opportunity to strengthen the wider RAF family at a time when many people will appreciate a helping hand.


I am confident that our people are the best. Every day they show this through their commitment on operations. In return they deserve the best support possible. For that reason I am pleased by our recent achievements: a very good pay award, especially for the lowest paid who received over 9% rise; better welfare for those on operations, including more protected vehicles, additional support helicopters and extended Wi-fi access; the introduction of the tax free Operational Allowance; council tax discount and more options for home ownership. But there is always more we can do in other areas, such as accommodation. I know how important this is to RAF families. We are working to improve in that area. This financial year we expect to spend around £870 million on service accommodation alone.


We all know that our Service personnel are very busy and Christmas is one time when those with loved ones away will feel it more. I know I can count on the RAF Families Federation to play an important part in helping to deliver the comprehensive, effective and timely support Service personnel and their families need.


It is your Families Federation but I too welcome it and wish Dawn McCafferty and her staff every success in the future.


Finally, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 


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