Your Federation Your Voice

Acting as a barometer of family morale, telling it like it is, and representing ordinary families’ views, knowing that the only voices that matter are those of the family members we represent.

The RAF Families Federation represents the views and concerns of RAF personnel and their family members on the issues that affect them as part of a RAF family. Whether you are in uniform yourself or a spouse, a partner, a parent, a child or a sibling of a member of the RAF, we are here to act on your behalf.

We are an independent organisation and operate entirely outside the RAF chain of command so we can always promise an independent and confidential service.

By gathering evidence we put your views and concerns in front of the people who can make a difference, such as senior RAF and MoD staffs and Ministers. Influencing change, where it is needed, for the better.

The Federation is not a charity, it is publicly funded. It is parented by the RAF Association but receives no monies from this source and pays for any services provided by the charity.

To Contact the Federation Click here

or email the team at: enquiries@raf-ff.org.uk

Click here for more information on the Federation and its work

The 2011 RAF FF Annual Report is now available. It gives details of Federation activity over the last 12 months. There are also eight supplementary documents on the key areas of our evidence gathering with supporting quotes - Thank you very much to all those who contributed.

Magazine, Unit Liaison Visits and Federation News

The Winter Issue of Envoy is avialable to view here by clicking on the image.

In this issue: First words to RAF families from the new Secretary of State for Defence; A Christmas message from the Chief of the Air Staff; The Federation have told the AFPRB what families think; An inviation for adventure to 14-18 year olds; A report on BFBS in Afghanistan this Christmas and much, much more...

Envoy, the quarterly magazine of the RAF Families Federation, is delivered to Stns/Units where there are RAF personnel and is always available from the HIVE.

Or if you would prefer your own copy register by clicking on the blue bar above and we will deliver it FREE of any charge to your door - Why? Because we, and the RAF, would like you to read it!

For more info or to view back copies >>

Last year members of the Federation team visited Ramstein, Naples, SHAPE, High Wycombe, Honington, Henlow, Waddington and Brize Norton and attended a number of Families Days. The results from last year's feedback can be found in the RAF FF Annual Report available on the website

This year we seek your views on: Family Support; AFPRB Evidence and the Impact of SDSR and the Armed Forces Covenant. We will be holding workshops at 12 units and also again be running our online surveys through the website. More details will be available as we launch.

For more information on our evidence gathering Click here

Latest News from the Federation

RAF FF gives evidence to Defence Committee on Service Accommodation

Dawn McCafferty, Chairman of the RAF Families Federation, has given evidence to the House of Commons Defence Committee on Service Accommodation. Dawn sat alongside her colleagues from the NFF and AFF. The Inquiry, entitled 'The Armed Forces Covenant in Action – Service Accommodation' explored accommodation-related issues, including the value Service personnel and their families place on Service-provided accommodation; the condition and maintenance of Service housing; aspirations for homeownership and barriers to the housing market for mobile families; and some fascinating discussion about the '21st Century Family'. Dawn drew on evidence provided by RAF Serving personnel and their family members...

More information »

Current Hot Issues & Talking Points

Housing

Phantom Dismantled but not Scrapped

The gate guardian at RAF Brampton has been removed in advance of the Station's closure. Staff went out to say a fond farewell to the Phantom XT914 before it was taken apart. The Stn Cdr said: “It is very sad to see the Phantom go but I’m delighted that it will not be scrapped but will return to its original home at Wattisham where it will be restored and displayed as part of their historical aircraft collection...

More information »

Education

Policy Change to the Residential Support Scheme

The Residential Support Scheme provides help with the accommodation costs of learners aged 16 and over, who need to live away from home to study because their course is not available locally. The MoD have worked with the Young People Learning Agency and the Department for Education to address an existing unfairness for those serving overseas and have now secured an agreement to make them eligible for RSS...

More information »

Health

Activity Breaks for Bereaved Families

Families' Activity Breaks (FAB) is a non-public funded, tri Service initiative in partnership with the Youth Hostel Association providing fun and challenging activity holidays around the UK for bereaved military families. If your child is aged 19 or under and has suffered the loss of a loved one serving in the Armed Forces, then this may be for you. The holidays offer an adventure, and a break, for all the family...

More information »

Financial

Child Maintenance Changes

All partnership breakdowns involving children are likely to be stressful and distracting and there is a move to do more to encourage Armed Forces personnel to be better informed of the implications and to encourage them to make their own maintenance arrangements, rather than have the CMEC system chase them...

More information »

Family Support

Send a Valentine Message via BFBS

BFBS Radio and TV are offering to help send a Valentine message for that special someone. There are options for messages to appear on their website on television or on air all to be broadcast on the 14th...

More information »

Policy

"An Equipment Programme that was out of Control"

The media is reporting that according to the Public Accounts Commitee, the UK's 15 largest defence projects are expected to cost £6bn more than first estimated. Responding, Philip Hammond said: "We are now close to eliminating the black hole in the MoD's finances. Scrapping the ill-fated Nimrod MRA4 was one of many tough decisions we had to take to deal with an equipment programme that was out of control...

More information »