Foreword by the Secretary General of the RAF Association


The RAF Association is delighted to have been awarded a two-year extension of the contract to manage the RAF Families Federation and looks forward to continuing to deliver a quality service for RAF families as part of its wider Welfare Strategy.


This Strategy sees the Association responding to demand for welfare projects in support of the serving RAF and their families. The wonderful Story Book Wings project has now delivered over 1,200 recorded stories for the children of deployed parents. Continued support for Contact Houses is exemplified by our recent investment in facilities at RAF Brize Norton, and we continue to explore ways of improving internet wi-fi connectivity at RAF units, enhancing communications between those deployed and those at home. Our Miles More Minutes campaign has been extremely well supported by the RAF, the Association’s members and the general public, and through their generosity we have been able to deliver an extra 3,000 telephone cards (some 60,000 additional minutes!) to RAF personnel deployed in Afghanistan, once again keeping personnel in touch with their loved ones at home.


The independent representational role of the RAF Families Federation has assumed even greater importance as the Service has begun to face the consequences of last year’s Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR), with compulsory redundancies and base closures taking place amidst a continuing high operational tempo. This Report highlights another very busy year and, with its supporting themed Supplementary Evidence Reports, provides an invaluable commentary on the challenges facing RAF families.


The team has achieved a high national profile, and given evidence to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, the Covenant Reference Group and to Housing Groups, where the future of accommodation delivery is under active debate. In order to influence all debate, the Families Federation needs your evidence, and I am delighted that their online and live surveys attracted such good support this year. Please do continue to provide evidence of your concerns so that the Federation, and the RAF Association, can do their best to support all family members who contribute so much to the Service.


J EASTON Secretary General RAF Association


4 www.raf-ff.org.uk


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