FEDERATION NEWS Our Annual Report for 2011
“I know, as do my Air Force Board colleagues, just how much your efforts and commitment have given to our families over the last year – Thank you! 2012 is going to be a very challenging year for all, but I trust that the RAF Families Federation will be ready to help us face the future, whatever it brings.” Stephen Dalton, Chief of the Air Staff
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011 was a difficult year for the RAF. Our 4th Annual Report focussed on the post SDSR era, and highlighted the key
challenges confronting RAF families. Each of the eight Evidence Reports on themed, family-related topics have been distributed to key influencers and policy makers.
The Strategic Environment During 2011, the Administration’s policies aimed at cutting the Nation’s enormous budget deficit had far-reaching consequences for all UK citizens. In addition, the majority of RAF personnel had no pay rise and had to accept cuts in the rates of some allowances. They also watched with dismay as the indexation of their pensions was changed.
On top of all this, RAF families had the spectre of the SDSR casting a long shadow. The announcement of base closures, and phased redundancies added to the misery, and all at a time when the operational tempo showed no let up. Morale was described as ‘fragile’ by some. For many morale has been shattered.
Federation Activity focused on: The Armed Forces Covenant Our membership of the External Reference Group ensured all parties understood the unique nature of military life.
The Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) We advised this independent body that many RAF families were hurting financially.
Future Accommodation Project Part of the New Employment Model (NEM) work, we submitted evidence on accommodation, now and in the future, ensuring RAF families had a say on this important topic.
DIO Transformation Project and the Next Generation Estates Contract The three Service Families Federations worked hard to ensure that, as the
www.raf-ff.org.uk
DIO goes through a painful and radical restructuring exercise, needs of families are not lost in the noise.
Conferences and Training Courses We welcomed attendance at RAF conferences and training courses to advise personnel and their families of the Federation’s role and, where possible, to gather evidence to inform our work.
Evidence Gathering Several hundred serving and non-serving family members raised concerns. Key themes included:
Housing Allocations, entitlement, condition, maintenance, re-grading. We introduced a quarterly Housing Report that now goes to DIO, MHS and the Housing Colonel to provide insight into families experience of living in SFA.
Personnel Impact of redundancy, medical discharge, Service Complaints and concerns about the impact of SDSR on future careers and home life.
Education The Review of the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) and tightening of entitlement prompted a spike in casework. We also heard from families struggling to access school places.
Medical Couples facing difficulties accessing IVF treatment and/or funding.
Definition of the Family Continued lack of recognition of unmarried partners, the rights of divorced parents with shared custody of children, and the lack of recognition of older children.
Overseas Assignments Impact of reductions in LOA and other allowances on family income; lack of employment opportunities for the non-serving family member(s) and problems accessing medical/dental care overseas.
Proactive work The Federation prides itself on the proactive approach it takes to gathering evidence. This is done using online surveys and by visiting units to gain a greater depth of understanding of the issues impacting on families around the RAF. In 2011, eight main themes were addressed:
A. Impact of the SDSR/Armed Forces Covenant B. RAF Way of Life C. Definition of Family D. Future Accommodation E. Childcare F. Employment & Training Opportunities for Family Members
G. RAF Way of Life a Reserve’s Perspective H. Youth
The full RAF FF reports are available to view at
www.raf-ff.org.uk and each carries the top 10-12 Key Findings, which we encourage you to read.
The Way Ahead
2012 promises to be an equally challenging year for RAF families. In response, we will continue to measure the impact of the SDSR and support families through the second tranche of redundancy and base closures. We will run three more themed surveys. In Apr 12, we will seek your views on ‘The Nation’s Support to the RAF’; in Jun, we will invite thoughts on ‘Pay, Pensions and other Stuff’; and in Sep, we will explore ‘Support to RAF Families’. Please support our work by completing the surveys via links on the RAF FF website or attending a workshop at your unit.
Envoy Spring 2012 23
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