FEDERATION NEWS FEDERATION NEWS
Under the heading of Federation News we update you on recent developments to let you know what we’ve been doing on your behalf over the last few months.
The New Line is ON-LINE
O
n the 1st June this year, the RAF Families Federation launched our on-line opinion
polls. We had been looking for new ways to gather evidence from RAF serving personnel and their families. Feedback from unit visits encouraged us to go on-line in the hope that we could reach more family members, especially those of you who live beyond the wire.
We still intend to run a number of our interactive evidence sessions at units as we believe that personal, face-to-face interaction with family members adds depth to the evidence we gather. Our visit programme is on the website so, if we are coming to your unit, why not come and tell us what you think?
How will it work? We have made the surveys available on-line, via our website at:
www.raf-ff.org.uk so you can tell us what you think from the comfort of your own home, from your local internet café, or from work (in a break, of course!). In order to protect the integrity of the data gathered, we are rolling out the passwords in a programmed release so, by the end of September, all family members should have the opportunity to contribute their views via our website. Otherwise, please ring the Federation for a password.
What topics are covered this year? This year the focus of our live evidence- gathering activities will be: the Impact of SDSR and the Armed Forces Covenant; the RAF Way of Life; and Future Accommodation. Also available on-line are our questions on Childcare, the Definition of Family and Service Family Member ’s Employment and Training. Of the six subjects available on-line, you have the option to answer questions on as few or as many subjects as you like. Even if you are not directly affected by an issue, for example Childcare, you are still likely to
20 Envoy Summer 2011
have an opinion and we’d like to hear it. We are also running surveys aimed specifically at Reservists and we will repeat our work with teenagers of RAF parents to ensure their views are also represented.
Why Bother? The RAF Families Federation is in increasing demand at the highest levels to provide independent, evidence-based input regarding RAF family life. In order to represent your views accurately, we rely entirely on family members telling us what they think. The Federation is your only independent voice and we encourage you to get involved and ensure that what we say on your behalf is exactly what you want us to say. Without you, we have no voice!
RAF FF Focus on Accommodation
A
recent focus of Federation work has been to monitor emerging developments
within the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to look at future restructuring and its potential impact on those living in Service-provided accommodation. Federation staff have observed an Industry Day on the Next Generation Estates Contract (NGEC) and we are now a recognised stakeholder and member of the NGEC National Housing Prime Consultative Group; our role will be to ensure that customer experience will be a top priority for any new contract.
In parallel with this work, the RAF FF aims to ensure that the aspirations of RAF families are taken into account by the MoD Future Accommodation Project Team, who are exploring options for the future provision of military accommodation. We have already attended one briefing and will support the team’s Communications Strategy to ensure families know what is being proposed and how it might impact on them. Our Future Accommodation survey, mentioned above, is one way you can influence the debate and shape future policy.
Briefing from Senior Staff at PJHQ
T
he Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood is at the heart of all joint overseas
operations and permanent overseas locations. We were therefore delighted to take up an invitation, extended to all three Service Families Federations, to attend briefings there hosted by DACOS J1, Colonel Richard Goodman and his team. Te team were extremely generous with their time and answered our many questions about deployments and overseas tours in a very frank and open manner. We covered topics, including: the Deployment Welfare Package; decompression; allowances; communications (including Facebook!); leave and R&R policy; the impact of the Strategic Review on overseas locations and volunteers for permanent assignments overseas; SFA charges; safeguarding of children; education and special needs overseas; medical services and last but by no means least, delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables to remote locations(!)
The Federation staff regularly receive briefings from MoD, joint and single Service policy staff and their willingness to share this privileged information is extremely welcome. By keeping well-informed, we are in a better position to advise any family members who approach us with concerns and, for those serving overseas or on operations, we now have excellent links with the current PJHQ A1 staffs as well as parent unit chain of command staffs.
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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