COMMUNITY
Storybook Wings Could you be an Editor?
The Storybook Wings initiative, introduced by the RAF Association three years ago, has proved such a success that the Association is now on the lookout for more editors. The team asks, ‘Is this something you could be interested in?’
S
torybook Wings is a scheme which allows serving parents to record stories, nursery rhymes and poems for
their children, along with personal messages, for them to listen to whilst they are away on deployment.
Thirty RAF units are now taking part and have recorders on site. There are also an increasing number of recorders in theatre for those who didn’t manage a recording before they left. The two most popular locations from where stories come are Afghanistan and the Falklands.
With the ever increasing demand for such a good idea, the numbers of serving personnel using Storybook Wings has rocketed (over 1,000 to-date) and the RAF Association is recruiting more volunteers to help edit the stories.
The editor’s job is not only to remove the hiccups and errors but also to add music and sound effects, making it an altogether unique experience for the children. All volunteer editors receive training in how to edit and use the software and add the sound effects. Add flair to the mix and the children have something to treasure for a lifetime.
Tricia Freer, Director of Welfare at the RAF Association said, “Our Storybook Wings editors are invaluable and do a fantastic job. The scheme is now proving so popular that we are looking for more people to join the team so we can continue recording as many stories as possible and getting them to families sooner rather than later. We provide full training for all of our volunteers so no prior experience is necessary just a desire to help keep serving families connected.”
One Editor wrote: “On joining the RAF all those years ago, the phrase I remember most was ‘never volunteer for anything’. Storybook Wings is the exception that proves the rule. As a volunteer editor you are actively helping,
www.raf-ff.org.uk
not only the serving RAF person who has been deployed overseas but the children and spouse/ partner left behind as well.
“You don’t need to be a computer geek to be able to edit the stories, just a basic knowledge of how to use a mouse, the internet and have an imagination – if you can copy/cut and paste, drag and drop pictures, you are well on the way.
“The training is step-by-step and progressive – you aren’t just given a story and asked to have a go! You initially look at the original story with all it ‘errs’, ‘ums’ and mistakes and learn how to remove them to make a nice flowing story. Then you start adding the music and sound effects, looking at the sound levels and the appropriateness of the sound effect against the age of the child (you don’t want to give a small child nightmares with screams and howling wolves!). After a couple of demo stories at home you are ready to go.
“When your first stories come in, they can be quite emotional. You can get a sense that you are intruding on a personal moment, but the feedback you receive from the families at home, once they have received their story, more than makes it worth the two to three hours a week it usually takes to produce a story.”
FS Alistair Jackson used Storybook Wings when he was deployed to Afghanistan. He missed spending Christmas with his wife, Susan and their two children, Amy, 9 and
Owen, 5. Amy and Owen received their stories on Christmas Day. Susan said: “Of all the Christmas presents the children received, this was by far the best. It is a wonderful service to be able to use.”
Alistair learnt about Storybook Wings after hearing it about it at Odiham. He said: “It seemed a perfect scheme, especially given I was about to be deployed to Afghanistan. It’s good to be able to do something so positive that helps you to stay close to your family when you are going to be serving overseas. The stories themselves were brilliant and the quality was really good, we were very impressed.
“Storybook Wings has been really uplifting. It meant a lot to me, and to the children. When I was away it was nice to think that they were still listening to the sound of my voice.”
If you can help
The RAF Association is asking those interested in volunteering their time or wishing to find out more, to contact Mark Mussell at:
storybookwings@rafa.org.uk
Envoy Summer 2011 41
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