YOU AND THE RAF
So what do Units spend their Families Welfare Grant on?
Information. Units provide all sorts of information to families at different points of a deployment and will usually be provided via the Service person so as to comply with data protection laws – These prevent the RAF contacting families direct without prior permission. The information will come in many forms including deployment support packs, newsletters, flyers or via Station webpages and emails (if consent is given).
Most importantly, Units will provide families with contact numbers of personnel from the Unit who can offer assistance whilst the Serving person is deployed including the HIVE Information Officer, SSAFA, Personnel staff and the personnel in the individuals chain-of-command.
Additionally, the Serving person will be asked whether or not they want their family to be given an official Point of Contact (POC). This happens before the individual is deployed. If you are a Service spouse or family member, do make sure you ask your Service husband/wife about this! This POC will be someone chosen by the Serving person and can be a Serving friend or colleague who will keep in touch with the family and be their first point of call for any queries. The home Unit will also keep
in touch if the Serving person wants their family to be informed of any social events or briefings designed specifically for the families of deployed personnel.
Activities and Products. Amongst the publications available for you from the HIVE is the ‘Staying Positive Chart’ where all ages can record daily/weekly events and how they are feeling. The Deployment Journal aimed at 8 year old and upwards to record thoughts and to encourage the child to get involved in challenges. ‘Talking Tins’ are hugely popular. They are a small red ‘tin’ that you can use to record a message. It is then posted between the operational theatre and home. The tin even fits inside a mini-rucksack on the back of a RAF teddy bear and at RAF Benson, the Talking Tins are carried by Purlin the Lion. All these opportunities are designed to help families keep in touch with their loved one.
Whilst some Stations provide deployment trips for family members to meet up and share a day out as a group, increasingly Stations are providing vouchers that can be used to allow family members to enjoy a leisure activity/ experience chosen from a selection and at a time to suit them. This has the benefit of helping families that do not necessarily live in SFA and importantly is makes these activities accessible to parents of personnel deployed who may be living miles away from the Station.
HIVE Information Officers and Community Support staffs are involved in providing the Family Welfare Grant funded resources to personnel and families – so do contact your nearest RAF HIVE to find out what is available at your Station.
For more information go to:
www.raf.mod.uk/community
24
Envoy Autumn 2013
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56