RESULT of the Armed Forces
Covenant Survey In your words
“We still feel neglected for all the sacrifices we, and our families, make for the love of serving in the RAF.”
“After 10 years of being a wife I can honesty say I’ve had enough of what this forces life holds…”
“Being a service family is as restrictive as you choose it to be. I work with people who have no service backgrounds and it makes a refreshing change… Living away from the main camp also gives you a sense of living in the real world…”
“Yet again the Government imply many great schemes and ideals and then deliver a sub- standard provision”.
“Its early days for the Armed Forces Covenant. However, I have heard nothing bad about its effects…”
W
e are most grateful to everyone who took the time to complete our survey and to talk to us.
The survey focused on awareness of the commitments made to Service families by the Armed Forces Covenant. We wanted to assess how implementation and communication of the Covenant is progressing and also determine to what extent people feel the disadvantages that affect military families are being rectified.
One of the key issues the evidence highlights is that while many of those who took part in the survey have heard of the Covenant, and recognise the general intent behind it, they still do not fully appreciate how it can help them and their families.
The evidence also indicates that there is a perception that the Covenant does not have the authority necessary to ensure that it is enforced fairly across England. We received evidence of disparity of treatment within and between NHS Primary Care Trusts (PCT), education authorities and local councils. And many families claimed that public sector employees at ‘the coal face’ are still either unaware of the Covenant or do not understand how it should be implemented.
Concerns remain with issues such as Service children’s education, childcare and employment opportunities for non- serving family members. Perhaps not surprisingly, our questions on the
specific commitments made by the MoD about the provision, condition and maintenance of Service accommodation, provoked a huge response. There are also genuine concerns about the long-term provision of service accommodation and the rumour mill is working overtime about the New Employment Model (NEM) and future accommodation policy.
Whilst we welcome the many positive steps already made by government departments to enhance the support they offer to RAF families and help remove disadvantage, it is clear that more work needs to be done on internal communications within central and local government to ensure those members of staff who have daily, face-to-face interaction with military families are aware of the commitments made by their senior executives.
The full evidence report will now be posted on our website and circulated at the most senior levels within the RAF and MoD and shared with our sister organisations to help inform the debate and strategy in this increasingly important area.
Please, please continue to provide us with your views and opinions through our surveys and other means. We are about to enter a very important phase with the New Employment Model which will effect very many aspects of Service life for both those in uniform and their families. Your words send a very powerful message and there has never been a more important time to say what you think – anonymously, of course!
8 Envoy Summer 2013
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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