DIRECTOR/EDITOR I From the Director


t’s been a very busy period for us. I presented the evidence that we’ve gathered from surveys and unit visits on pay and your quality of life to


the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, and whilst I don’t think I told them anything they’d not heard elsewhere, I know that they really appreciated hearing it directly “from the horse’s mouth.”


They were interested in an array of issues ranging from what you think about basic pay to serving overseas. You can see the report we gave them on our website. Another area of interest for them was how well MoD is communicating with you on initiatives like the New Employment Model and the Armed Forces Covenant – both of which impact on everybody to a greater or lesser extent – and that was also a key issue discussed at the Covenant Reference Group (CRG) meeting held in early October. The three Families Federations are members of the CRG, which is led by the Cabinet Office and basically manages the Covenant. It is very evident that communication on Covenant initiatives and what they can do for you is not


great. The MoD and the three Services will be redoubling their efforts and we’ll be helping with that and seeking your views on how effective that effort is. But in the meantime, I would urge you to Google “Armed Forces Covenant” and just have a look at what it’s done to date and at least be aware that it could help you too – maybe not immediately but at some point in the future.


By the time you read this, I will have met with the Minister for Defence Personnel Welfare & Veterans, Anna Soubry MP, to talk about the issues and concerns that you’ve shared with us over the last 6 months. It’s a tremendous opportunity to influence change and to make sure that your concerns are heard at the heart of government. Again, look out for what was said on the website.


The Team has also been out and about. Since the summer we’ve visited Marham, Honington, Waddington, Halton and brilliant Families Days at Brize Norton, Scampton, Wittering, Leeming, Benson, Henlow and Shawbury. We have more unit visits coming up between now and





EDITOR’S words I


’ve had such a warm welcome to the Families Federation, since starting here mid-September and time has really flown by; I’ve loved every minute.


Initial observations for me are that we


really do value all enquiries that come in to us or feedback given at events. We also have a clear need to run independently of the RAF to be truly effective in being a credible voice for you all. Having seen the Evidence team come back from a recent station visit, the determination in everyone to keep driving your views forward, was very obvious.


I 4


will be involved with dealing with some of the many enquiries and problems which we receive here at the Families Federation and


I bring with me 23 years of military experience. I spent 12 years serving in the RAF, stationed at home and abroad, and now 11 years of ‘following the flag’ as a military wife. I therefore fully understand the problems and upheaval


Envoy Winter 2014


Christmas for you to talk to us, to take


away your views and concerns (and the good bits,


too) and for you to hear about what we are doing on your behalf.


That, believe it or not, is just part of what we do and we are busy with a host of other activities as well. So I’m delighted to report that we have two new members of staff at the Federation to help cope with the workload: A warm welcome to our Communications Manager, Caroline Woodward, and to Alison Serrell-Cooke, our new Evidence Assistant. In a rather tawdry attempt to get out of having to write any more than this, I thought it would make a change if our new members of staff also wrote about their first impressions of the Federation. So here they are:


I hope you enjoy this next edition of Envoy. There are some great articles to share as well as a real sparkle of inspiration for things you can get involved in.


Keep in touch if you have future articles in mind, or come and say hello at an event!


Caroline Woodward – Editor  Welcome to Alison


we experience with moving house every couple of years, houses not available or not suitable, finding the right schools for children, making friends and most importantly finding work.


I look forward to the coming months here at the Federation of going out to RAF Stations and meeting as many folk as I can. As Caroline says – please do come and meet us


whilst we’re on the road. It’s always lovely to meet our readers.


Alison Serrell- Cooke 


www.raf-ff.org.uk


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