Key Findings


From our top-level analysis of the votes received, we believe the key findings from the younger RAF family members’ perspective are: 1. 2. 3.


More than half of voters have had to change schools more than three times because their serving parent had been posted. A third of those who had changed schools told us that they didn’t like it. Only 9% said that they liked changing schools.


Two thirds of voters had seen their serving family member go on operational duties overseas in the last three years. 19% of those family members had been away for more than nine months (in total) during that period.


4. 5. 6.


7. 8.


9.


10. 11. 12.


Younger family members told us that, while they missed their parent/sibling a lot while they were on operations and worried about them, they were proud of what they were doing.


If they needed someone to talk to while their serving family member was away, these young voters spoke to their other parent/step-parent, a friend or their siblings. Of some concern, however, were the 8% who told us they didn’t talk to anyone.


More than half of voters found it relatively easy to talk to their serving family member while they were on operations. They mainly used the phone, chat forums such as Skype, or e-mails/e-blueys.


Many voters want to see either a cinema, swimming pool or skate park provided in their local area.


Nearly two thirds of our voters did not know about the RAF Benevolent Fund (RAF BF), although half of them had heard of the RAF BF’s youth project ‘Airplay’.


A third of voters felt that youth services had improved at their unit since the arrival of the dedicated youth workers, funded by the RAF BF. The majority of younger family members who took part in the survey liked being part of a military family. Based on their experiences so far, though, half of them would not consider joining the Services. On a positive note, nearly a quarter of voters do voluntary work in their spare time.


www.raf-ff.org.uk


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