Why should YOU contact the Federation?
The RAF Families Federation is funded by the RAF but sits outside the Chain of Command as an independent organisation. We represent all RAF personnel –bethey Regular,Reserve, single, married or in apartnership, together with their families.
We provide avoice for the issues and concerns you have about life in the RAF,and we have direct access to senior RAF and MOD staffs as well as Government Ministers.
To do all this, we need to hear from you on issues such as quality of life, accommodation, health, education, pay and allowances Everyone’s views and concerns are important to us.
Keythings to remember: •Wework with the RAF/MOD and not against them
•Wedon’t undermine the chain of command; we work with them but will dig them in the ribs on your behalf when necessary
•Wewill signpost you to the ‘best’ experts to help you if required
•Wealways maintain your anonymity and respect your privacy
•Wealways maintain afair and balanced approach
Help us to continue to share the message Contact us:
raf-ff.org.uk Telephone 01780 781650 or email
enquiries@raf-ff.org.uk
Welcome
Since the last magazine, our team diary has been filling up nicely here at the FF to join you at families’ days and other similar events. If you have any key dates you’d like us to be part of,please drop me an email at
enquiries@raf-ff.org.uk.
from theeditor
In this edition of Envoy,you’ll see proof that your comments to us really do get used. Mark Lancaster wrote to Bill earlier this year and his letter is included within Stan’s housing article so I’ll say no more now and leave you to have a read, especially if you live in SFA.
On the very same subject, we have some great content and examples on how the Armed Forces Covenant supported you during 2015. Hopefully these will give you aclear idea on how the Covenant actually works and the sort of things it’s there
for.There is also aseparate article on the banking industry, including mortgage deals for you as Armed Forces personnel. It essentially covers things like when you own your own home and then need to rent it out whilst deployed on operations or serving abroad.
Moving on to spousal support, we have been expanding our gateway of information to courses, opportunities and access to job sites and there is now an RAF Families Group on LinkedIn. As job news, shares and tips come in to us we share them on our LinkedIn Group so please feel free to join and help us make it areally useful network for our spouses.
FrontCaption: RAF Coningsby Photographic Section.
CONTACT Telephone: 01780 781650, email:
enquiries@raf-ff.org.uk or via the website
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Envoy –The magazine of the RAF Families Federation, published 4times ayear. To have your FREE copy delivered quarterly to your home, email
enquiries@raf-ff.org.uk or via our website
www.raf-ff.org.uk
RAF Families Federation, 13-15 St Georges Road, Wittering, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE8 6DL 01780 781650 Director: Bill Mahon Communications Manager: Caroline Woodward
Communications Assistant: Nick Crouch Assistant Volunteer Editor: Kate Graham Evidence Manager: Colin Jones Evidence Assistant: Todd Fellows Evidence Assistant (Housing): Stan Brathwaite Office Manager: Ruth McClelland
Published quarterly by Method Publishing, adivision of Scottish Provincial Press Limited, on behalf of Envoy
Design and Typography:©Method Publishing 2016 Editorial Matter and Illustrations: ©Envoy Printed in Great Britain by: Warners Midlands plc Advertisement Office (UK): Method Publishing, Sutherland Press House, Main Street, Golspie, Sutherland, KW10 6RA Tel: 01408 633871 Fax: 01408 633876 Email:
k.tainsh@methodpublishing.co.uk
Views expressed in Envoy,unless stated otherwise, are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of Envoy,the RAF or the Ministry of Defence. No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in Envoy can be accepted by the Publishers or Printers and advertisements are accepted on the express condition that the advertiser warrants that they in no way contravene the provisions of The Trades Descriptions Act 1968 nor any other prevailing legislation in the United Kingdom. The Publishers reserve the right to refuse acceptance of any advertisement without stating areason.
www.raf-ff.org.uk Spring 2016 3
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