Envoy - Summer 2023

Welcome from the Editor

Welcome to the Summer edition!

I am very conscious the production of this edition crosses over with when the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will happen. So we wanted to include a piece to share The King’s new cypher which will gradually be rolled out and worn on all RAF uniforms. I hope you all had amazing events to celebrate either as communities or families – or both!

Moving on to Overseas Assignments (OA), for those of you considering, going on or already living the life of an OA, we have provided some top tips by the very people who have been on them. Check those out on page 26 and please contact Jade in the team if you have more to share for future use.

The finance pages on the RAFFF website are always, without fail, in our top five most visited sections and to support that we have some good articles in this issue on protecting pensions from inflation, unclaimed pensions (who knew that was even a thing?!) and a piece on Capital Gains Tax if you live in SFA and rent out your own property.

I’d also like to finish by saying a very fond farewell to you as this is my last edition of Envoy. I have absolutely loved the last eight and a half years with the RAFFF and thank you for the warm welcome I’ve had too when out and about. Definitely one of my best jobs ever!

Please let me introduce you to my successor, Tim Unwin who will be picking up the reigns for the Autumn edition and onwards. Enjoy Envoy and please email Tim to talk future article content.

tim.unwin@raf-ff.org.uk

Support & Outreach: Ian Todd

Communications Assistant: Nick Crouch

Policy and Evidence Manager: Vanessa Plumley MBE

(Health

The RAF Families Federation is an independent organisation parented by the RAF Association

The RAF Families Federation is supported by the RAF Benevolent Fund

Cover Photo: The Celebrating Forces Families Awards 2023 in progress, here focusing on the Military Family Charity of the Award held at the Victory Services Club, London.

Jerudong International School

Brunei Darussalam

Let your child study and be inspired by the unique tropical environment of Brunei!

An ‘outstanding’ HMC co-educational thriving boarding and day school for 1660 students aged 2-18 years from 55 countries. Jerudong International School (JIS) has a long established history and close relationship with UK military families posted to the Brunei Garrison.

Nestled close to the coast, JIS boasts well qualified academic staff in state-of-the-art facilities on its 120 acre campus. It is a leading school in Southeast Asia preparing students for I/GCSEs, A Levels and the IB Diploma.

“The quality of boarding provision and the care the boarders receive at JIS is outstanding” PENTA International (UK Government Inspection) January 2019

In the Spring we sadly had to say goodbye to some members of staff – two people off to great new roles as part of a natural progression for them, and one moving with his spouse to SHAPE. With challenge comes opportunity too, so we have reshaped the team slightly to sharpen our focus on our support for those overseas, spousal employment, and the data and evidence we need to influence on your behalf. Please keep an eye out for some announcements about our new team members, to learn how they may be able to help you or a family member.

One growth area we have been keeping an eye on over the last few months is families facing challenges with childcare and also in finding appropriate school places for their children. Neither of these are an easy fix, but Ali Stokes our specialist has been working especially hard on behalf of families, aided by Vanessa Plumley in the

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Policy Manager role. Currently school rolls are often strained, and mobile RAF families are at the sharp end of this. We are also busy in this area in presenting evidence to government for long term policy change – you can see our recent submissions here: www.raf-ff.org.uk/surveys/evidence Lastly, as you read this, we will be gearing up for a round of face-toface engagement throughout the summer. Some of this will be in the form of Drop-In Clinics at units, and elsewhere we will be attending a range of Families Days. Make sure you follow us on whatever social media channel works best for you for updates on where we will be or get in touch via email: enquiries@raf-ff.org.uk if you would like us to attend an event at your Unit.

Maria

FOREWORD

By | Wing Commander Manjeet Ghataora OBE, Air Media & Communications, HQ Air Command

So, the first I heard of Envoy was when I received an email from the editor asking if I would write the foreword for this edition of the magazine, which I ignored. Then another and did the same, but the reason? Why would the Families Federation want me to write a foreword? I mean, I’m someone who’s not married and doesn’t have kids?

I then had a call with the editor, Caroline Woodward. She explained that the Families Federation is here for all RAF personnel - even us ‘singleys’! She explained the various ways in which the organisation helps. The obvious ones would be supporting access to schools for parents and other issues experienced through mobility. Or for personnel on a PCP car finance package, who commit to a three-year contract to then be posted overseas unable to take their car with them due to the small print (check out their online case studies pages). For me, I had no idea that they could have helped resolved a dispute with my mobile phone company when I was recently deployed to Bosnia for eight months.

So, what of me?

I used to be known as the face of RAF, after one of my pictures was used in a recruiting advert and was plastered everywhere. But I’m actually an Engineer Officer and one of the few that have had a foot in both the communications and aircraft camps of my profession. This has led me to have a very broad career all over the world, starting with running a golf ball in

Manjeet pictured with his mother at Windsor Castle.

Northumberland (Remote Radar Head Brizlee Wood), then moving to a flying radar as the JEngO for the E-3D Sentry at RAF Waddington. With various overseas tours in the Middle East and Afghanistan, the pinnacle of my career is still as the SEngO of 99 Sqn supporting our C-17 Globemaster IIIs. That was nearly 10 years ago, but seeing ZZ177 repatriate HM the Queen from Scotland, reminded what a privilege it was to serve on the Sqn. Currently I am the SO1 Internal Communications lead in Air Media & Comms, based at HQ Air Command – RAF High Wycombe. If I’m honest, the reason I took the role was because of personal reasons. I had lost my father in the summer of 2019, and this left my mother living on her own in Birmingham. Then COVID struck whilst I was deployed away to Bosnia, and although our communications are far superior to those I remember at Camp Bastion, this was an extremely difficult time for my mother and so as soon as arrived back in the UK, she moved in with me. Of course, we have our ups and downs, and the intention was always to buy a place that’s walking distance from me and I’m now wondering how the Families Federation could help with that process! But what I have realised is how lucky I am to have had

the opportunity to really get to know my mum as a person rather than just my mum. So, I know I may have started this foreword as a ‘singley’, but the reality is, no matter what our circumstances, we all do have families which we try to support as best as we can, and sometimes we may need that additional help. I will now be engaging with the Families Federation to see what advice they may be able to provide for my situation.

Manjeet at RAF Brize Norton as the Senior Engineering Officer (SEngO) on 99 Sqn– C-17 Circa 2014.

News IN THE

Funding available: new Service Pupils’ Support Programme

Boarding School children able to access routine dental care

Expansion of SSAFA’s eRedbook service

Specifically supporting Service pupils aged 4-18 years, this programme will focus on those pupils from currently serving families and will support them along their educational pathways.

Can you claim up to £3,400 on childcare costs through Wraparound Childcare

Further to the engagement the RAFFF has undertaken, the MOD has announced that from 1 April 2023 Boarding School children and students will be able to access routine dental care during School Children Visits.

Crash Site Detective: What happened to Halifax NP711?

The eRedbook is a parent-held health and development record which allows access to your child’s personal health and development records wherever the family is.

RAFFF evidence published for DfE Childcare

and Early Years inquiry

MOD Virtual School provides support for military children

New service introduced to oversee the education of military children educated overseas. MOD Virtual School looks after the safety, welfare and education of military children who live overseas.

Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (JSP 854) –updated

Join over 4,600 Service families in claiming funding for up to 20 hours of before and after school care per week for eligible children aged 4 to 11 years old.

Tri-service regulations for leave and other types of absences (JSP 760)

In an exclusive new documentary, Crash Site Detective: What happened to Halifax NP711? Forces News follows crash site investigator as he attempts to locate the exact spot where the bomber came down.

Trust awards almost £3M to 10 transformational projects

Evidence provided by the RAF Families Federation (RAFFF) in response to the Department for Education's request for submissions on the provisions of Childcare and Early Years has been published.

Tri-service accommodation regulations (TSARs) (JSP 464) – updated Apr 2023

This Joint Service Publication (JSP) 854 explains the Armed Forces Pension Scheme AFPS 1975 (AFPS 75). The scheme came into force on 1 April 1975.

Purple Pack: Support for bereaved Armed Forces families

JSP 760 has a broad remit and encompasses the majority of reasons for the absence of a Service person from their designated place of work.

RAF crew help staff spruce up terraces and flowerbeds at veterans’ care home

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) is delighted to have awarded more than £2.9 million to 10 inspiring projects across the UK in the first round of their Transformational Grants programme.

RAFFF provides feedback in SEND consultation on your behalf

JSP 464 is the definitive policy for the provision of Service family accommodation, single living accommodation and the substitute equivalents.

Call for better support for military widows

The Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) Purple Pack provides support for bereaved Armed Forces families, specifically family members of personnel who die in service.

SSAFA Community Health Team promotes CONI scheme

Eight Service personnel donned gardening gloves and brought brooms, rakes and trowels when they came to Royal Star & Garter in High Wycombe to help staff clean terrace areas and tidy outdoor spaces.

Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care acknowledges lived experience of Armed Forces Families in special educational needs (SEND) review.

People whose partners died while serving in the Armed Forces say they feel overlooked and let down by the military community, according to a report published by Northumbria University.

SSAFA and The Lullaby Trust are working on Care Of Next Infant (CONI), providing support and advice before, during, and after pregnancy to parents who have experienced the death of a baby.

Further details on all these stories can be found on raf-ff.org.uk

Search for the headlines on our website

Armed Forces Families Fund grants improve lives for Service families

Resource to help Early Years practitioners

Plan ahead for summer removals

More than £400,000 awarded to 42 Forces projects

The Armed Forces Families Fund is delivering real change for Armed Forces communities, including Service children and partners of Service personnel.

Scotty’s Little Soldiers open new lodge for bereaved military children

The resource sets out to create a wider awareness and understanding about being a child or young person from an Armed Forces family and how best to provide support.

Can you help identify a Veteran with an unclaimed pension?

Information from Agility, DIO and Pinnacle to help ensure family needs are met during the busy summer season. Summer is always the busiest period of the year for housing allocations and removals activity.

Tri-service regulations for expenses and allowances (JSP

752) – UPDATED

The charity for bereaved military children and young people, officially opened their seventh Scotty lodge for bereaved Forces families on Wednesday 29th March at Devon Cliffs Haven.

Grants for RAF children

As part of a campaign to encourage Veterans with unclaimed pension benefits to come forward, the Forces Pension Society encourages you to help identify Veterans you think might qualify.

My

How the Alexander Duckham Memorial Schools Trust (ADMST) supports the children of RAF personnel past and present with education and welfare needs by awarding grants.

MOD Services gain insights from Lived Experience events

RAF Benevolent Fund Awards 2023 Winners

JSP 752 is the policy document for expenses and allowances for

Welcome to Scotland Guide 2023 published

Projects across the UK were supported in this latest round of the Force for Change programme from gardening and woodworking, to sporting and community wellbeing projects.

New legal requirement for voters – make sure you are prepared

The UK Government has introduced a new legal requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station.

Second World War Bomber unveiled after decade of conservation

The Scottish Government has released the 2023 edition of its Welcome to Scotland Guide, available for Service personnel and families. The guide provides practical information on various topics.

Defence Connect Accommodation information now accessible

Women into Employment

MOD Services held its second face-to-face Lived Experience event in March at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London to gain valuable insight from Service leavers and veterans.

The Defence Connect page is now accessible external, from 1 May 2023, giving family members and partners access to accommodation information as well as the Service person.

Forces Employment Charity to host flagship career event to support women from the Armed Forces community on 5th June.

The RAF Benevolent Fund celebrated the hard work of its fantastic supporters at its eleventh annual awards ceremony.

Forces life Art competition 2023

The RAF community is invited to take part in ‘My Forces’ life art competition, from Reading Force, for the chance to win books and art materials.

A Second World War Vickers Wellington bomber has been restored to its former glory after more than a decade of conservation at the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands.

Our welfare break gave us the quality time we needed as a family.”

- Al

Why not apply to stay in our new holiday home for serving RAF personnel and RAF veterans? Situated only a 15-minute walk from the traditional seaside town of Bridlington.

It’s the ideal destination to visit for a holiday with kids or for some peace and quiet.

The four-bedroom chalet bungalow is suitable for wheelchair access, along with a disabled friendly bathroom. A real home from home, with everything you need for a memorable holiday.

To find out more and apply, visit: rafbf.org/thefolly

His Majesty The King's Coronation heralds a new era for RAF Uniforms

You may have noticed that RAF aviators on parade at the Coronation in May were honoured to be among the first to wear The King’s new cypher on their uniforms, alongside their Royal Navy and British Army colleagues.

The new design of the RAF cap badge, and other adornments to RAF uniforms, reflect the style of crown personally selected by HM The King to represent his sovereignty.

The Royal cypher is a monogram-style design used by the reigning monarch. Queen Elizabeth II’s cypher was featured on RAF uniforms from Her Majesty’s coronation in 1953 and consisted of the letters EIIR with St Edward’s Crown above.

King Charles’ cypher features the letter ‘C’ intertwined with the letter ‘R’ for Rex (Latin for King), with ‘III’ within the ‘R’ and the Tudor Crown sitting above.

“His Majesty’s cypher is an important symbol for the RAF. It will be worn by every RAF aviator around the world and demonstrates their belonging to His Majesty’s Armed Forces.”

Wing Commander Crook OBE RAF’s Ceremonial Lead

Wing Commander Waterworth was closely involved in this work.

“It is a great personal honour to be part of the team working hard to ensure that the new RAF badges were ready in time for the King’s coronation. I know that every aviator on parade during this historic day felt enormous pride when wearing them.”

Wing Commander Waterworth

The eventual changing of all RAF uniform items to include The King’s cypher will not happen just yet. Existing uniform stocks that feature Queen Elizabeth II’s cypher will continue to be used for a period of several years. The exceptions will be for new recruits at RAF Halton and RAF Cranwell, aviators who are involved in delivering ceremonial duties, such as The King’s Colour Squadron, RAF Musicians, and senior officers.

The King has a close affiliation with the RAF, having served as an RAF Officer in the 1970s. The Monarch is the Head of the Armed Forces and The King maintains a close bond with the Service. In November 2022, the RAF’s ceremonial unit was redesignated to become The King’s Colour Squadron: www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/kings-colour-squadron

Starting

NEW RAF APPOINTMENTS

Air Marshal Sir Richard Knighton appointed to be the next Chief of the Air Staff

Air Marshal Sir Richard Knighton KCB FREng is to be appointed as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) and Aide-de-Camp to His Majesty in the rank of Air Chief Marshal, in succession to Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston KCB CBE ADC, in June 2023.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “I am delighted to congratulate Air Marshal Sir Richard Knighton on his promotion and appointment in June as Chief of the Air Staff. His previous roles have equipped him well to lead a modern, innovative and diverse Service. As the first ground branch officer to command his Service, his appointment marks a new milestone for the Royal Air Force.”

“Under Air Marshal Sir Richard’s leadership, the Royal Air Force will be in excellent hands. He takes up his appointment at a crucial moment for the Royal Air Force as it evolves to meet future threats while continuing to conduct operations to protect our security and support our allies and partners.

“I would also like to recognise Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston’s loyal service to the nation over his military career. Sir Mike has delivered a lean, effective, modernised force that has offered phenomenal operational effect across the globe and I wish him all the best in the future.”

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said: “I am very pleased to welcome Air Marshal Sir Richard Knighton as the next Chief of the Air Staff. The first engineer to lead his Service, he is just the person to seize the extraordinary technological opportunities that await the Royal Air Force, to become even more lethal and agile, and to reach even further into cyber and space.

“Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston has been a valued friend and colleague. Throughout his time as Chief of the Air Staff, the RAF has sustained an extraordinary tempo of operations, protecting UK and NATO skies and helping to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Under his leadership, the RAF established Space Command and contributed to the success of Carrier Strike. His stewardship of the Global Combat Air Programme has shaped the future of the RAF, and Britain’s aerospace sector, for the next halfcentury. It is a worthy finale to almost four decades of service.”

Air Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said: “I am deeply honoured to be appointed as the next Chief of the Air Staff at such an important time for the Royal Air Force. The Prime Minister was clear in the Integrated Review Refresh that the world is now more volatile and contested. Air and Space power are critical to defending the UK, its interests and our allies. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to build on the modernisation and phenomenal operational success led by my predecessor.

“The Royal Air Force is operating the most advanced capability in its history, but this is nothing without the brilliant people who are at the heart of what the Royal Air Force delivers. I am enormously proud to lead our people, and will work tirelessly to support them in continuing to modernise and run the Royal Air Force.”

New Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force

Congratulations to Warrant Officer

Murugesvaran ‘Subby’ Subramaniam, who has been appointed as Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force in succession to Warrant Officer Jake Alpert.

The Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force (WORAF) is the senior Warrant Officer of the RAF. The post was created in 1996 and the person holding this appointment advises the Chief of the Air Staff on matters concerning RAF personnel.

“As the new Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force, I am eager to take on the responsibilities that come with this position, particularly acting as the spokesperson for the non-commissioned cadre.

“Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working in a variety of roles and with colleagues from different branches of the UK's Armed Forces, including the Army and Navy. I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had to develop strong working relationships across all three branches of the military, and look forward to continuing to strengthen those bonds, in my new role.

“I am deeply grateful to the RAF for the trust and confidence they have placed in me, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to support our people and uphold the high standards of our Service.”

Subramaniam is an Air and Space Operations Manager, whose service in the last 15 years has predominantly been in the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS), Missile Warning (MW), Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) field.

Prior to joining the Royal Air Force in 1998, Subramaniam served in the Royal Engineers with 106 Field Squadron/12 Force (Air) Support Group, 36 Engineering Regiment.

Read WO Subramaniam’s full biography on the RAF website: www.bit.ly/new-warrant-officer

2023 Invictus Games

- Meet the five RAF serving personnel

attending this September

The Invictus Games are an inspirational display of true resilience, strength, and determination that capture the warrior spirit of wounded serving and veteran.

The participants, all wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans, will compete at the Games in Düsseldorf, between the 9th and 16th September 2023; supported by the Royal British Legion (RBL), in partnership with the MOD.

The Invictus Games, established in 2014, provides an opportunity for those who have suffered illness or injury during or as a result of their service to compete in a sporting environment as part of their recovery journey. The RBL has been involved in Team UK since 2016, when it started supporting the friends and families of participants on their journey to the Games. This is the first year the charity is taking responsibility for delivering the whole team, participants included, to the Games alongside its partners, the MOD.

Team Captain, Lieutenant Commander James Rogers, is returning for his second Invictus Games after competing in cycling and swimming events at The Hague in 2022. James lives with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a long-term autoimmune inflammatory arthritis condition, which affects his mobility, causing full-body pain and chronic fatigue. He returns to the Games hoping to build on his experience of 2022 and to continue to be an inspiration to his family.

“A few years ago, I couldn’t go to the park with my kids, so I want to show them what I’m able to achieve now. Representing my country, and the Armed Forces, and to top it all off, being selected as Team Captain is an absolute honour and privilege.”

Lieutenant Commander James Rogers Team Captain

The first Invictus Games was held in London and it has subsequently been held in Orlando, Toronto, Sydney and The Hague. Working in partnership with the MOD, the Royal British Legion is committed to funding and facilitating Team UK’s attendance at the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 and Vancouver and Whistler in 2025.

“The RBL is very proud to support Team UK as they head to the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf. The camaraderie and confidence that sport provides plays an important role in recovery, and we understand that everyone's journey is unique to them, and the RBL are here to help.”

Antony Baines

Royal British Legion’s Executive Director Services

Access to adaptive sports and the opportunity to participate in the Invictus Games is just one way the RBL supports the wounded, injured and sick community. Adventurous training and theatre and art programmes are also offered to assist each individual on their recovery journey.

JAMES HARRISON

• Cycling

• Rowing

James joined the RAF in 2018 but found himself tripping on his left side during basic training and experiencing severe headaches and vertigo. Later, an MRI scan found brain lesions indicating he had Multiple Sclerosis.

Not allowing this to stop an exciting and fulfilling career in the RAF, James was able to retrain as an Air Intelligence Analyst.

“When it came to applying for the Invictus Games, I wanted a new challenge and new opportunity to help me keep motivated and driven. I have always loved sports, especially cycling, and Invictus provided that chance to see what I could do, meet top coaches and speak to other people going through similar health issues to myself.

“My confidence after the taster sessions has already been boosted and it’s a massive honour to represent my country on a world stage. I cannot wait to be part of the Invictus and beyond the games I hope to really take my own experience and help it to support others and inspire those who may be struggling.”

STACEY DENYER

• Indoor Rowing

• Powerlifting

Stacey Denyer is a Flight Sergeant at RAF High Wycombe, due to leave in June 2023 following 19 years of service.

She began competing for the RAF at powerlifting competitions in 2015,

squatting weights of 100kg. However, Multiple Sclerosis and osteoarthritis causes her knees to give way and Stacey now struggles to pick items off the floor.

Stacey was inspired to take part in the Invictus Games to test her limits and see what she can achieve.

“Since the training camps, I’ve found something to focus on again, and I’ve got back into powerlifting too. Seeing as I can’t squat anymore, I’ve found a new love for weights in the form of bench-pressing. It’s not something I thought I’d ever compete in, but I’ve really got my motivation back again.”

DAVID MONCRIEFF

• Archery

• Indoor Rowing

• Swimming

David Moncrieff is a Chief Technician as a RAF Mechanical Engineer, having completed fourteen tours of Afghanistan, three tours of Iraq, and worked with the Chinook Display Team for two seasons.

Living an active lifestyle, David discovered a passion for horse riding. However, whilst training for the RAF Riding Championships, he was thrown from his horse and suffered a complex spiral fracture to his tibia and fibula.

David developed acute compartment syndrome resulting in an emergency fasciotomy to save the leg. Yet, this does not stop him and after meeting a former Invictus competitor, David applied for the Invictus Games 2023.

“I want to prove to myself and to my son and family that yes, I might have a leg that doesn't really work very well, but it's not going to stop me.”

MIKE EVANS

• Archery

• Athletics

• Table Tennis

• Wheelchair Basketball

Flight Lieutenant Mike Evans joined the RAF in 1999 as an Aircraft Engineer, working with the Red Arrows and Chinook helicopters as well as the Nimrod MR2 and the Sentinel aircraft. He went on to the RAF Police and is now a member of Directing Staff with the RAF Officer Training Academy, at RAF Cranwell.

In 2021, Mike developed tinnitus in his right ear and was referred for an MRI scan, revealing a large brain tumour. Surgery left him completely deaf in his right ear and caused some nerve damage, affecting his balance and coordination.

Mike attended virtual martial arts classes with his son whilst recovering during Lockdown. Sport has improved Mike’s self-esteem and confidence in his abilities and The Invictus Games 2023 will be his next opportunity to challenge himself within a team of like-minded people who have also overcome personal challenges.

ROBERT "BOB" GRANTHAM

• Indoor Rowing

• Swimming

Corporal Robert "Bob"

Grantham is an RAF Aircraft Maintenance Technician, working on Puma helicopters as part of 33 Squadron at RAF Benson.

Robert injured his ankle during an Ironman triathlon event in 2021. He continued to complete an ultra-marathon event and was later diagnosed with a fractured tibia and ligament damage as well as a ganglion cyst at the site of the ligament sprain. The RAF rehabilitation instructors and physios have helped Robert to his recovery.

Robert witnessed a rocket propelled grenade pass the front of his aircraft, leading to some PTSD for which he has received counselling and says has improved as a result. Robert says being able to speak to fellow Invictus participants who understand his experiences has further improved his mental wellbeing.

“Being part of Team UK means a huge amount to me. Now I have the goal of getting to the Invictus Games and being the best I can, it’s given me extra motivation to improve my swimming and to keep going to the gym to do my rehabilitation work. This was just the push I needed to keep improving and increasing my belief that I can do it. Hopefully, through my experiences I can help other people dealing with injuries and show that you can still push yourself and achieve a lot. The biggest thing for me is knowing that just because I have an injury it doesn’t stop me doing what I want to do.”

THE PAST MEETS #NEXT GEN RAF AT RAF CRANWELL

Congratulations to Pilot Officer Insall who graduated from the RAF Officer Training Academy at RAF Cranwell, watched by her family and friends.

Pilot Officer Insall graduation marks 108 years of military history for the Insall family.

It was during the Modular Initial Officer Training Course that Pilot Officer Insall rediscovered that one of her ancestors served in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War.

Gilbert Stuart Martin Insall commissioned in the Royal Flying Corps on 14 March 1915, and at just 21 years of age and only seven months into his career was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). Insall was unable to personally receive his VC in 1915, as he and his gunner had fallen wounded into captivity. After 2 years and two failed attempts to escape, Insall escaped on his third attempt and arrived home in 1917. His VC was presented by His Majesty the King (George V) on 27 September 1917.

After the war, Insall remained in service, receiving a permanent commission as a Captain in the newly formed Royal Air Force on 1 Aug 1919 – his rank was re-graded to Flight Lieutenant on the same day. Just 3 months later, Insall was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for gallantry after escaping from captivity as a Prisoner of War during the War. In 1920, he undertook No 4 Flying Instructors Course at the Central Flying School (CFS) at RAF Upavon.

To further explore her family legacy, Pilot Officer Insall met

with the Commandant of the CFS prior to her graduation to learn about her great-great uncle and to understand the Flying Instructors Course.

Group Captain Jordan was able to show Pilot Officer Insall photos of her ancestor’s graduation from No 4 Flying Instructors Course in 1920 and helped her to understand CFS’ amazing history but also, its relevance in today’s RAF.

Pilot Officer Insall said: “Whilst at RAF Cranwell, I have rediscovered just how interesting a history my family has in the RAF. My great-great uncle, Group Captain G S M Insall, was awarded a VC for his actions during the First World War. To be continuing my family’s legacy in the RAF makes me proud and I’m looking forward to my future career.

“The opportunity to see Gilbert’s course photo in HQ CFS was really special, and it is nice to know that my family history lives on within the RAF for me to build on. The interest shown by Commandant CFS about preserving the past was encouraging and I appreciated the parallels he drew about their past innovation to the current day.”

Group Captain Jordan, Commandant CFS said: “It was a genuine delight meeting with Pilot Officer Insall and to discuss her great-great-uncle’s illustrious military career, including his time as a CFS qualified instructor. The story of his exploits, which led to the award of both VC and MC, reminded me of the innovative spirit that the founding Fathers of our Service and the CFS exemplified. Whilst the technology that we operate might have changed since 1915, the ethos remains, and we should be extremely proud of our heritage and legacy. The CFS wish Pilot officer Insall the very best of luck in her future career”.

Photos © Crown Copyright 2023

Defence Accommodation Policy Stay Connected…

When a conflict ends, for some the battles don’t stop – they just stop making headlines.

Life can be tough after you’ve left the military. We’re here for you and your family – wherever and whenever you served.

We’re by your side in the Veterans War. Get in touch today to see how we can help. Visit helpforheroes.org.uk/get-help

SUPPORT & OUTREACH

Issues raised

The first quarter of the year has seen a steady flow of issues reported to us through the website. Accommodation remains the main topic of these issues. There was a noticeable reduction in cases, which has been surprising as this time of year has historically seen a rise, usually attributed to inclement weather and the demands on heating systems. We hope this shows early signs of improvement with the FDIS contract, but are conscious there is more work to be done to ensure families receive an acceptable level of service.

Drop-In Clinics

Richie and Ian have now completed the first round of Drop-In Clinics visiting 15 Units over a four-month period. Engagement has been positive and we will be looking to continue with these visits in the upcoming months alongside our usual attendance at Families Days. We could not have completed these Clinics without the support of the Community Support Teams at the respective Units and in particular the Hive Information Officers who have, in the main, been our point of contact.

We also say goodbye to Support and Outreach Manager, Richie Morgan (pictured) and thank him for all his work with the RAFFF.

HEALTH AND ADDITIONAL NEEDS

Future of the NHS

Caz was recently in London at the joint NHS England Armed Forces Patient Public Voice (AF PPV) and Clinical Reference Group (CRG) meeting. They were privileged to be joined by Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England. Those attending presented key pieces of work on the future of the NHS and what this means for the Armed Forces community, as well as work focusing on female veterans and Op COURAGE.

Maternity support in Scotland

We met with the Moray and Banff Maternity Voices Partnership in order to gain a greater understanding of the issues affecting our families in Scotland through their maternity journey.

RAF Wellbeing and Parenting Cell

And last but by no means least, we met with Squadron Leader Vicky Littlechild – who has stood up the new RAF Wellbeing and Parenting Cell created to support Serving personnel with new resources and information designed to make life easier for Serving parents.

Finance

We held the first RAF FF Community Forum on the increased cost of living and how it is affecting our Service families. It was a really useful discussion where we were able to gain first-hand, lived experiences, from those who attended about the key financial issues affecting the wider RAF community. The timing of the Forum meant our Director had some additional evidence on some of the Cost of Living factors impacting personnel before she appeared in front of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body the following week.

We attended the Forces in Mind Trust stakeholder workshop supporting the ongoing study into the financial stability of Military Families.

THE TEAM ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AS A SERVICE PERSON OR FAMILY MEMBER.

We provide an independent voice, educate networks and push for policy change that supports the RAF community. Here is a snapshot of a few of our current areas of work – aimed at making life better for you at work or at home whether in the UK, or overseas.

Ian Todd

Richie Morgan

Caz Evans

Education and Childcare

Wraparound Childcare

The RAFFF welcomed the introduction of the MOD Wraparound childcare scheme, which is already benefitting many RAF families: www.raf-ff.org.uk/wraparound-childcare-approved

However, we are aware that not all families meet the eligibility criteria for this funding and some families may still be experiencing challenges in accessing affordable childcare that meets their needs. To raise awareness of this, the RAFFF responded to a call for evidence from the Education Select Committee on Early Years and childcare provision. We were delighted with the response to our snapshot survey, which helped to inform our response to this and a subsequent consultation into Child Poverty and Parental Employment by the Scottish Parliament. Thank you to those who completed the survey in January 2023 to help us raise awareness of the unique challenges RAF families may encounter.

Accessing Funding for Further and Higher Education

We are aware that some Service personnel and families have encountered challenges accessing funding for Further and Higher education. Using evidence provided by the RAF community, the RAFFF submitted a response to the Scottish Government consultation on changes to residency criteria for access to financial support in Further and Higher Education in March 2023. Thank you to those who responded to our survey to share your insights and lived experiences to help inform our response. We look forward to hearing the Scottish Government response in due course and will continue to engage on this matter.

New Deployment Support resource

In April, we celebrated the Month of the Military Child and had a communications focus on education and childcare to raise awareness of the organisations and charities working to support children and young people from the RAF community. We have published a new Deployment Support resource in collaboration with SCISS and the Army and Navy Families Federations. If you or someone you know are going on deployment, you may find our Deployment support for children webpage helpful: www.raf-ff.org.uk/family-support/deployment/children-specific-support

Communications

RAF Community Forum

Since standing up the RAF Community Forum in Autumn 2022, we are now four Forum discussions in, having covered Cost of Living, Partner Employment, Education and Accommodation. These online sessions have informed the RAFFF of your lived experiences in order for us to provide anonymised evidence to inform research, senior leadership or ministerial meetings to influence change.

To join the Forum, please email enquiries@raf-ff.org.uk in the first instance and we’ll send you the T&Cs and a registration form. Future subject themes include: The Overseas Lived Experience, Family Life Working Group, Living in Single Living Accommodation and Dual Serving.

Alexandra Stokes FEDERATION SNAPSHOT NEWS Deployment Support The RAF Families Federation (RAFFF) work to improve quality of life for the RAF family around the world – at work or at home. The RAFFF have practical guidance for spouses and partners of deployed Service personnel and information on Support for Children and Young People The RAF Serving Families website highlights that there are many ways to get the help and support before, during and after the operational deployment of your serving family member including information on what to do in a family emergency. The RAF HIVEs Service provides an information and welfare referral service to the Armed Services community and support all enquiries including deployment.

ON Deployment is when a service person is serving away from home for a period of time. This could be on an operational tour of duty for 6 months or more, a training course or an exercise which could last for a few weeks. The Families Federations have collaborated with the Service Children In State Schools National Executive Advisory Committee to create this resource with useful links and signposting to raise awareness of the resources and organisations offering support to help children from an Armed Forces background during times of deployment. The Royal Air Forces Association Storybook Wings is service where RAF parents and grandparents can record a bedtime story to be edited for their child to listen to when the serving parent is away from home. If you are serving in the RAF and would like to record your own Storybook Wings story contact storybookwings@rafa.org.uk or get in touch with your station HIVE. Doodle Pack is a service for RAF deployed parents and children who are looking to get creative. Packs include many items such as colouring books, banners, fabric pens with pillowcase for the deployed parent to take with them. RAFA are currently updating these packs and new items will encourage outdoor activities and include an amazing scrapbook. To request a free Doodle Pack, RAF families can email RAFA at –Doodlepack@rafa.org.uk

The RAF Benevolent Fund (RAFBF) are dedicated to supporting not only serving and ex-serving personnel but also the whole of the RAF Family. There are number of services which provide support to children of those who serve. Services such as the Youth Counselling Service the youth support programme Airplay Building Stronger Families online portal, which offers advice to parents who may need support.

Service Children In State Schools (SCISS) is a voluntary affiliated network of statemaintained schools in England that have any number of service children on roll. SCISS have produced concise, informative Factsheets including one on Deployment and Separation aimed to help school leaders who might be new to supporting Service children.

Top Tips for Overseas Assignments

2. ‘Check out where you are physically going to live’

– Liane Cockram

It is important to find out exactly where you will be living (if possible). This will enable you to research the local amenities that are close by – public transport routes, shops, restaurants, schools and childcare settings.

By finding out as much as you can before you go you can be better prepared. For example, if you are accompanied and the accommodation is in a more remote location, you may need to factor in the cost for an additional vehicle.

3. ‘Thoroughly research education settings, childcare, costs and availability’

-

Helen Massey

There are considerable variances in the availability and standards of childcare and education from location to location. Therefore, we highly recommend you research what is available in the area before applying for an overseas assignment.

Overseas assignments present many opportunities for RAF personnel and their families. However, our research tells us being outside of the UK can also present some challenges.

Being prepared is key to success, so we asked you to share with us your top tips for overseas assignments, to help others going overseas or considering applying.

This is particularly important where children have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Whilst this should not deter you from applying, you may need extra time to explore the support available in-country for your family’s specific need(s).

Education considerations: bit.ly/3JZ0u5B

Childcare considerations: bit.ly/3JWkw0C

4. ‘Be aware of job opportunities for spouses’ -

Vikki Trigg

Our research found spousal employment was the primary reason RAF families would be less likely to volunteer for an overseas assignment.

1. ‘Have plenty of money saved up for the initial outlay’ - Craig Hunter

It is important you have sufficient funds available to cover all potential on arrival costs, such as vehicle purchase, rental deposit and insurances, as well as living expenses. Whilst Local Overseas Allowance and Disturbance Expenses are available, they may not fully compensate for all additional costs.

We recommend creating a budget sheet with a healthy contingency, to ensure any unexpected costs can be comfortably absorbed. You may also need money available for medical and dental treatments, as in some areas you need to pay up front before claiming back costs.

Considerations before you apply: bit.ly/3Zr0Asj

We recommend you research employment opportunities before the application for overseas Service is made. Barriers to in-country employment may include; lack of suitable jobs, UK qualifications not recognised, childcare constraints, work visa eligibility and language barriers.

Note: this is especially important at the moment. Spousal employment, particularly in the EU post-Brexit, is one of the top three issues reported to us.

Following your research, if you conclude you would be unable to work overseas you will need to consider the implications of a career break, from a financial and reemployment perspective.

Check out our overseas employment considerations: bit.ly/3M6uvD5

– as recommended by you!

Here are our top 5:

5. ‘Take as much as you can with you’ - Claire Ireland

When moving overseas you will be allocated space for shipping. However, there will be an interim period before your shipping arrives, so it is important to pack belongings strategically for convenience and maximise your luggage allowance. We recommend you understand provisions included with your overseas accommodation, for example you may be entitled to soft furnishings allowance, this may reduce what you need to take with you.

Note: Post-Brexit regulations in Europe mean you may need to pay VAT on receipt of goods ordered from the UK, this is dictated by the Customs rules of each country, so factor this into your plans/budgets.

If you are going overseas with the RAF, or considering it, check out the overseas pages on our website: bit.ly/414MkH9

PLAN AHEAD FOR SUMMER REMOVALS

Information from Agility, DIO and Pinnacle to help ensure family needs are met during the busy summer season:

Summer is always the busiest period of the year for housing allocations and removals activity. The last week in July and first week in August are particularly popular dates and are usually fully booked several months in advance.

Whilst suppliers will always try to meet families preferred Move-in, Move-out and removals dates, it may not always be possible to achieve this with the significant volume of requests received. To ensure family’s needs are met at this busy time you are urged to:

• Only request services during this period if you are unable to move at any other time.

• Where possible, please could accompanied personnel without children avoid planning for a move within the school summer holiday window;

• Please register your removals requirement as soon as you receive your Assignment Order via the Agility portal https://grms-external.agility.com

You do not need a confirmed delivery address to start this process, but knowing the location will enable Agility to commence broader resource planning activity for the summer moves.

• Once allocated SFA, please confirm availability for removals before booking your move in and out appointments.

TRANSIT TIME GUIDANCE

The following transit times should be used as a guide for all domestic mainland UK house moves, guideline transit times for international moves can be found within JSP 800, Vol 2, Pt 5, Ch 5.

Distance up to 200 miles:

Volume up to 50m³ – 2 days

Volume over 50m³ – 3 days

Distance over 200 miles:

Volume up to 50m³ – 3 days

Volume over 50m³ – 4 days

All Transit times will be confirmed by the removals supplier on completion of the pre-move survey.

For planning purposes a 1-2 bedroom house will normally be less than 50m³, 3 – 4 bedroom house may be more than 50m³.

If you have any questions or concerns then please contact Agility GRMS through their web portal: https://grms-external.agility.com

ADDITIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITY ADAPTIONS (ANDA) REQUIREMENT for your Service Families Accommodation (SFA)

Under the new accommodation contracts that commenced in April 2022 there have been some changes to the ANDA process. Caz Evans, our Policy Advisor for Health & Wellbeing, shares with you how to make a request, including top tips to help things run smoothly.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Pinnacle Home Services Team are responsible for allocating accommodation, dealing with any maintenance issues and to make any adaptations, or supply special equipment for your home that may be required. Your application for an SFA can be made via the DIO e-1132 system via the Defence Intranet; if you have any special considerations that DIO ANDA team should know about, you should include these in your application.

You will need to include supporting documentation with your application, usually a current Occupational Therapists (OT) report, or other medical supporting paperwork. Your medical professional can also complete the DIO ANDA assessment form if they wish. If your medical condition has changed, you will also need a new OT assessment/report. If you don’t have an OT report, you can request a referral from your GP or search your local council/local health authority for access to one. These reports including your e-1132 application number, and any questions regarding relevant documentation, need to be sent to the following secure email address: HomeServicesConfidential@pinnacleservicefamilies.co.uk.

Once the DIO ANDA team have received your application they will either agree the works, or seek further clarification on requirements from you. Once the works are agreed, they will commence the search for an appropriate home for you. In some cases, this may involve a site visit by the team to check a property’s suitability, so that they can be assured that it best suits the needs of your family. They will match property to need as closely as possible, so that all appropriate adaptations and equipment can be accommodated. We are assured that the DIO team makes every effort to accommodate all appropriate requests for ANDA and work hard to supply accommodation as quickly as possible.

TOP TIPS!

• We recommend applying for your SFA as soon as you receive you assignment in order to allow plenty of time for any adaptations to be made or specialised equipment to be sourced by DIO. In this way you can access your new property when you need it, and avoid any delay to your move.

• It is advisable for Service Personnel to inform their Career Manager of any additional needs their family may have with regards to SFA. In this way you can avoid the added pressure of short notice moves and increased time considerations may then be given to allow adequate planning for any move to SFA that may need adaptations.

• It is important to remain flexible and realistic about ANDA. Whilst most adaptation requests will be willingly granted, there may occasionally be requests that are outside the scope of DIO due to practicality, funding or property suitability.

Protecting Pensions from inflation

Your Armed Forces pension is growing as you serve in the Royal Air Force but have you ever wondered how it grows? In this article, Mary Petley of the Forces Pension Society explains how they accrue and how pensions are protected from inflation during service.

All Service personnel will have been AFPS 15 members since 1 April 2022 and most will have protected benefits in either AFPS 75, AFPS 05 or RFPS. Each scheme has a different method of calculating pensions as they grow during service:

• AFPS 75 benefits are based on the member’s rank for pension, their length of service (including any Added Years purchased) and the Pension Code in force on their date of discharge. All AFPS 75 service is counted in the member’s rank for pension on the date of discharge, which is an advantage for those who have been promoted but, for those who haven’t, if pay rises are low, there is little protection when inflation is high.

• AFPS 05 and RFPS use a Final Pensionable Salary (FPS) formula. FPS is the best consecutive 365 days’ pay in the last 3 years of service, with the earliest 2 years’ pay increased by inflation, and is used as the basis for the calculation. FPS is multiplied by the member’s length of service (including any Added Years purchased) and divided by 70 to arrive at the value of the pension. So, if pay rises are lower than inflation, the figure used will factor in inflation from earlier years. This method applies to AFPS 05 Early Departure Payment (EDP) Scheme calculations too.

• AFPS 15 pensions build up at a rate of 1/47th of pensionable pay for each year of service and, the pension is re-valued annually by the Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) figures. AWE is calculated using information based on the Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey, which samples around 9,000 employers in Great Britain. It

provides estimates of monthly and annual change for the main industrial sectors, and is used to revalue previous years of AFPS15 accruals. The AWE increase applied in April 2023 is 7%. As AFPS 15 EDP benefits are based on the actual pension earned, this protection feeds through to EDP benefits too.

• AFPS 15 offers members the opportunity to purchase Added Pension. Added Pensions contracts last up to a year and, once purchased, the value of the Added Pension bought is increased by the Consumer Price Index each year until they are drawn, and then every year thereafter.

So, in a nutshell, each of the Armed Forces schemes is very good – AFPS 15 is amongst the best in the Public Sector –and each does its best to protect your pensions earnings as they grow during service. Remember, you can monitor this growth by requesting a formal forecast on an AFPS Form 12 and by reading your annual Benefit Information Statement.

If you are Member of the Forces Pension Society and have pensionrelated questions, contact us at pensionenquiries@forpen.co.uk.

If you are not yet a Member but would like to know more about us, visit www.forcespensionsociety.org

Forces Pension Society: can you help identify a Veteran with an unclaimed pension?

As part of a campaign to encourage Veterans with unclaimed pension benefits to come forward with their claims, the Forces Pension Society encourages you to help identify anyone you think might qualify. We know there are thousands of Veterans who have not yet made their claims. Our recent Freedom of Information request showed that during the 24-month period alone, between 1st June 2020 – 31st May 2022, over 4,000 Armed Forces pensions went unclaimed.

The AFPS Annual Report (July 2022) identified a larger total of 16,518 unclaimed benefits, with some Veterans having more than one entitlement.

Maj Gen Neil Marshall, CEO of the Forces Pension Society said: “We can all play our part in encouraging Veterans we know, to come forward if they have not claimed their preserved pensions or preserved lump sums. These can be significant amounts of money. For example, a preserved pension of £1,500 for someone who left in April 1985, would now have a value of £4,500 pa.

Anyone serving after April 1975, now aged 60 or over, could have an unclaimed pension. AFPS pensions earned before April 2005 are payable at age 60 but will not be paid automatically –they have to be applied for.

“We urge you to encourage anyone who might be eligible, to visit the Veterans’ Gateway website without delay: www.bit.ly/3o59T4f

“Of course the Government also has a role to play in signposting the issue to the Veterans’ community, and we continue to encourage them to do just that.”

If you would like to find out more about our work and how we empower our Members to make the best pension choices, visit our website –www.forcespensionsociety.org

The Forces Pension Society is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that acts as a pension watchdog for the entire military community.

Maj Gen Neil Marshall, CEO, FPS

CAPITAL GAINS TAX:

If I live in SFA and rent out my own property, do I need to pay?

What is Capital Gains Tax?

Capital gains tax (CGT) is a tax that is applied to any profits you make when you dispose of something you own for more than £6,000. This can be by selling the item or swapping/giving it away. It is the gain you make that is taxed, not the amount of money received.

This can include, a second property or buy-to-let (but not your main home).

Therefore, if you are renting a property to live in and letting out your own home to someone else you should may need to pay CGT.

Service accommodation and Capital Gains Tax

However, if you are living in Service accommodation (referred to by HMRC as Job Related Accommodation) you do not need to pay CGT on your rental income.

If you are renting out your own home whilst living in Job Related Accommodation (JRA), it is perceived you would prefer to live in your own home and you live in JRA to better carry out your work duties.

This is part of the Chargeable gains Act of 1992, section 222(3C).

CGT questions answered:

Will HMRC know I’m in HM Forces and understand I don’t need to pay CGT?

They will not automatically know you are Serving and living in Service accommodation, Government departments do not share information.

There is conflicting information available on whether you need to advise HMRC of your exemption; with some references suggesting you do not need to advise them and others saying you must if you want to be exempt from paying CGT. Therefore, it’s better to tell them so you are covered. How do I tell them?

You need to write a ‘Letter of Nomination’ to HMRC and include the following information:

• The names of the owners of the property

• Their NI number

• The address of the property you are nominating

• From what date the nomination began (this must be within the past 2 years)

Send your letter of nomination to:

Capital Gains Tax Queries

HM Revenue and Customs BX9 1AS

United Kingdom

Liz at Money Bee explains what Capital Gains Tax is and the implications if you live in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) and rent out your own property.

It’s always a good idea to send this via recorded delivery, then call a few weeks later to make sure it has been received is attached to your file(s).

Call: 0300 200 3300 or if you are outside of the UK +44 135 535 9022, Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm

What if I started renting out my house more than 2 years ago?

That’s OK – most people are utterly unaware of the need to nominate a residence. Here the S222(5A) from the same act comes into play – it explains late nominations are allowed, provided all but one of your residencies during the period had a negligible capital value (for example a house you rent where someone else has invested the capital - this is what your JRA is). I receive an allowance as opposed to renting a property from HM Forces – does that count?

Yes it does. This is because HM Forces are giving you money for accommodation as opposed to the accommodation itself which, for the purposes of this, amounts to the same thing.

Other useful information

• You can only nominate one primary residence at a time.

• If you are married / in a civil partnership, you and your partner can only nominate one primary residence between you.

• Unless your rental income is less than £1000 per annum (that’s £1000 per person receiving the rental income), then you need to fill in a self-assessment to let HMRC know about

it. The income must be in line with the ownership split in the deeds (or Statement of Trust if you have one drawn up).

Note: This information is correct at the time of publishing. Money Bee is not a CGT expert and does not guarantee that you will be exempt from this or any tax: www.money-bee.co.uk

GET INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES

You are advised to contact HMRC directly if you have any queries.

See this from HMRC meaning of what JRS is https://bit.ly/3mCp3Od

See this for HMRC guidance on late nominations (i.e. more than 2 years): https://bit.ly/capital-gains-manual

See here for HMRC guidance on late nominations: https://bit.ly/changes-to-ancillary-reliefs

See here for HMRC contact details: https://bit.ly/tax-enquiries-for-individuals

And: https://bit.ly/section-222

SUPPORTING FAMILIES WRAPAROUND CHILDCARE

Wraparound Childcare

By | Corporal Robert Linn

Serving at High Wycombe we were lucky enough to be involved in the Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme. Since the nationwide roll-out, last year, we have continued to make full use of the scheme, and this has meant my wife is able to continue work, full time, and build on her career.

Many families, across the UK, face the difficult decision on returning to work or staying at home to provide childcare. The Government continue to look at the cost of childcare, with the recent announcement of extended 30 hours funding for nursery fees, it’s clear to see things going in the right direction. But what about school-aged children? Costs for this can be significant and it can deeply impact families and their livelihood – particularly in high cost areas such as Buckinghamshire, London and Oxfordshire.

The Wraparound Childcare Scheme contributes substantially to the cost of our use of a childminder (not an insignificant amount in the Buckinghamshire area!). Without this, we would have we would have no option except for my wife to give up work as the cost of childcare would be too great; a decision I am sure most families labour over. With childcare being a hot topic right now, it’s nice to know that the MOD/RAF are ahead of the game when

it comes to helping parents back into employment by providing childcare solutions. Childcare can be provided by a provider attached to the school or, in our case, a registered childminder in the local area. The rates vary, based on where you are in the country but for those in high-cost locations, it is a significant amount to help fund the costs.

Not only does it benefit my wife and I, but my children are also able to socialise with others, both from civilian and military families, and share experiences with them –significant in aiding their development at a crucial juncture in their lives.

We found the application process and claiming simple and having the Government funded Tax Free Childcare account means that anything we do have to pay towards the bill is topped up by 20%, even further savings! There is a portal that all Service personnel can access, with information on how to claim, the impact on other benefits and loads more: https://bit.ly/wraparound-childcare

For those not already using WAC or are unsure, I would recommend doing some research on the portal. In my opinion, it is one of the best benefits we have as Service families – with the scheme running nationwide and the positive impact it has had on our family, I would be completely lost without it.

RAFFF Policy Advisor for Education and Childcare, Alexandra Stokes adds:

“The RAF Families Federation is delighted that many Armed Forces families are now benefitting from the MOD Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme. We are aware that this case study doesn’t replicate everyone’s lived experience and we will continue to advocate for the RAF community and raise awareness of the challenges that some families may encounter in accessing childcare provision.”

Information on Childcare and Early Years is available on the RAF Families Federation website: www.raf-ff.org.uk/education/childcare-0-5-years or you can contact us if you need support: www.raf-ff.org.uk/contact/general-enquiry

Celebrating Forces Families Awards 2023 – The Winners

The second Celebrating Forces Families (CFF) Awards evening, took place on 28th April 2023, recognising 36 amazing finalists who have given so much to the UK’s Armed Forces community. With two of the youngest finalists aged just 10 years of age, the event recognised and celebrated every cohort of the ‘military family’ through their hard work, drive and determination.

The ceremony, held at the Victory Services Club in London was headline-sponsored by Barclays and attended by families, friends, all event sponsors and the Ministry of Defence. This included military leads who joined the evening by invite to show their appreciation to the UK’s military families.

Meet the presenters

Actor and SSAFA Ambassador, Antony Cotton MBE presented the Awards alongside BFBS presenter Sian Grzeszczyk. Between them, they presented with true sincerity and empathy, bringing the Awards to life,

recognising the inspiring stories of each and every finalist. Antony also broke from the traditional stage announcements this year, taking to the floor and talking to finalistsespecially those in the Inspirational Family Member of the Year and Young People’s Award categories.

Spotlight on the Finalists

Inspirational Family Member of the Year Award winner, Molly Williams joined her Dad, Julian as he ran and walked 100 miles in 24 hours in May last year to raise funds for the RAF Association. Molly joined using her Duet Tandem Wheelchair bicycle with the help of her Mum, May - sister Anya and brother Edmund. Molly said:“I don't quite believe it, because I am only 10 and I don't see myself as inspirational. I just wanted to give something back to the RAF Association, after they were so kind to buy me my perfect bed that helps me sit up when I need to. I wanted to help make other people happy, the way the RAFA has made me happy.”

The 2023 Celebrating Forces Families winners. Molly Williams (front and centre) with Lisa Billings (front/far right) ©Al Topping Photography

Host, Antony Cotton MBE

Host, Sian Grzeszczyk

So let’s celebrate the Winners and our Award Sponsors Award Title Award

Inspirational Family Member of the Year

Away From Home

Young People’s Award

Family Volunteer of the Year

Overcoming Adversity

Military Family Charity

Social Media Influencer

Armed Forces Advocate

Small Business Owner

Exemplar Forces Family Friendly Employer

Winner(s)

Molly Williams

Rhoda Kirkpatrick

Gregor Allan

Sharon Deans

Lisa Billing

The Ripple Pond

Marama Alliance

Leanne Cobham

UK

Sponsor

Headline sponsors, Barclays

Amazon

CTP partnering with Right Management

HSBC

M&S

Centrica

Amey

Mott MacDonald

Jodie Woods, Baby Sensory & Toddler Sense Supporting the Unsung Hero & X-Forces Enterprise

Amazon UK

Overcoming Adversity Award winner, Lisa Billing has worked tirelessly to preserve the memory of her son, Daniel Wade and other soldiers who died in Afghanistan. Over the past decade, she has spearheaded the renovation of a community garden near Warrington Cenotaph, transforming it into a beautiful space that honours our fallen heroes. Her partnership with Warrington Borough Council has secured funding for this outstanding project.

When asked on receipt of her award, Lisa said: “I’m lost for words to be honest. Everyone here this evening has done so much that I was so surprised that I won this award. It means the world to me to have been able to do something to keep our soldiers memories alive through this memorial. Thank you.”

Armed Forces Children Choir

The Awards began with a drinks' reception, filled with guests and an atmosphere of excitement and expectation. It was followed by a sumptuous three-course-meal in the venue’s Carisbrooke Hall. After the meal, the audience were entertained with an amazing performance; a trio of songs sung by the Armed Forces Children Choir to ably mark the start of the Awards’ announcements.

Armed Forces Children Choir spokesperson, the CEO of Never Such Innocence, Katie Salari reflects on Friday evening’s experience: “It was a privilege for the Voices of Armed Forces Children Choir to perform at the Celebrating Forces Families Awards, especially as it was held in April, the Month of the Military Child. It is vital that Service children have the

Forces Employment Charity

opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings about being a member of the greater Armed Forces family. The choir loved seeing audience members singing along to Welcome Home and Stand Up and it was a special honour to recognise the Queen with their song, The Most Famous Lady, which they wrote after her passing. The Queen was the head of the Armed Forces and they wanted to remember her through that song. It was a wonderful night recognising so many amazing people who have done so much for the military community this past year and we were honoured to perform for them.”

Watch on playback

If you couldn’t make it to the Awards, or take up the livestream opportunity, you can watch the event on playback through the CFF website: www.celebratingforcesfamilies.co.uk.

Thank you to all sponsors

In addition to the Award sponsors, we also wish to thank those who supported the CFF Team in other areas of the event:

Headline Sponsor Barclays

Drinks Reception Compass Group UK & Ireland

Media Partner

BFBS

Armed Forces Children Choir

Naval Families Federation and RAF Families Federation

Green Room

RAF Families Federation in partnership with Annington Trust

Printing of the CFF programme

Corporate Document Services Ltd

Gift bags

Amazon UK

Event Team Chair, Sarah Walker said: “For our second year running, we have been able to run the CFF Awards through sponsorship and I must thank all our sponsors for enabling this year’s event to happen. A special mention must also go to the event team – a team of 15 military organisations who are part of the MOD supported ‘Partner Employment Working Group’. They worked collaboratively to organise the event on top of their day jobs as volunteers; most are also military family members themselves.”

Follow us on social media

@celebratingforcesfamilies

@cffawards

Contact: info@celebratingforcesfamilies.co.uk

CREATING COMMUNITY PROJECTS WITH e50K

e50K is a Community Interest Company, founded by Armed Forces spouses and dedicated to creating community projects around the Armed Forces Estate for Armed Forces families. The e50K team came together because each one had been affected by the Armed Forces lifestyle, be it problems with employment opportunities or access to education or feelings of loneliness and social isolation and they decided to do something about it.

The Bramble Woods Project

They currently run the Bramble Woods Project in Catterick, which is the first of its kind within the Defence estate. DIO, through Amey and with the support of Garrison command, gifted e50K with management of the 3.5 hectare site to establish a multigenerational and multi-use site for the community.

As custodians of Bramble Woods, e50K has secured funding to develop the site including renovation works, community allotment spaces, flora and fauna conservation and to put on a range of family events. Bramble Woods is open to everyone, it is a beautiful place for a walk or a picnic, or to toast marshmallows around the firepit.

e50K’s ambitions

The team at e50K have ambitions to create a network of projects across the country which provide opportunities for employment, education, enterprise and engagement for Armed Forces families as well as multiple ways to combat social isolation. The site at Bramble Woods already employs four spouses and has an ever growing team of volunteers.

There are many very exciting plans for the coming year, the whole site will be transformed as the team continue to work on regeneration; restoring wildlife, developing the allotment site and providing a full range of events including the return of the ever popular forest schools and Rusticus Outdoor Theatre.

Sophie, a Catterick Spouse and e50K volunteer said: “When I first moved to Catterick as a first time military spouse, I was so lonely! However, learning about and getting involved in e50K has helped to overcome anxieties, build my confidence, encourage my involvement in the community and I have started to make new friends in the area. Thank you so much e50K, the work you do is incredible!”

Further information

If you are interested in more information about Bramble Woods events, volunteering opportunities or you’re interested in starting a community project near you please check out their website www.e50K.org or

@e50Korg

It is the belief of e50K that no one is better at creating improvements for the community than the people who actually live, work and play within it.

To discover more www.malverncollege.org.uk

READY TO TRANSFER YOUR SKILLS INTO A CIVILIAN ROLE WITH PURPOSE?

DISCOVER DE&S CAREERS

Communication ✓ Leadership ✓ Teamwork ✓ Problem-solving ✓

Organisation ✓ Understanding of the UK military ✓ Start a civilian career at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), and you’ll use all these strengths and more to help deliver the best service possible to military colleagues still serving in the Armed Forces.

A wide range of roles: With opportunities from Engineering and Project Delivery to Logistics, IT, HR and more – we’re confident you’ll find a role to match your skills at DE&S.

Exceptional benefits: Including flexible and hybrid working, an employer pension contribution of around 27%, a generous leave allowance, and a wide range of discounts.

Explore our jobs: Scan the QR code below to discover our latest vacancies and find a rewarding civilian career where you can continue to support and protect the nation.

New separation and divorce guide for military personnel spouses and partners

Ending a marriage or long-term relationship is usually stressful and emotional and there are often added complexities to consider if you are part of the Armed Forces Family. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to ensuring that spouses, partner s and families of Military personnel have access to the support they need throughout this journey.

There is a vast amount of information already available, but this can also be overwhelming and hard to find when it’s not all in one place. This new comprehensive online guide should help to alleviate some of that pressure and uncertainty.

There are also likely to be additional issues to consider that civilian couples and families don’t have to face, such as eligibility to allowances, and entitlement to Service Family Accommodation (SFA). The information contained in this guide seeks to address some of those nuances for you.

This guide is not a replacement to the wide range of

organisations that are on hand to assist, but an online resource containing guidance, information and links to the various organisations and support networks available to you.

Whether you are a spouse or partner who is separating from a member of the Armed Forces, or an individual supporting someone who is, these resources have proven helpful to others who have been through similar experiences and it is hoped that you will find them useful too.

To access the guide head to: https://bit.ly/separation-and-divorce-guide

HOW DO YOU BEST LEARN?

By | Rev (Sqn Ldr) Christina Lacey

You know, there’s the classic active learner, an internal or an external processor, visual, hearing, reading… but I want to add another one, Netflix! I’ve never been very ‘academic’ and although I love books and the idea of having read the copious books on my shelves at home, when it comes to reading to learn I often struggle to absorb it. But, if I’m able to watch a dramadocumentary or interviews with first hand accounts then, for some reason, I become like a sponge!

This year I’ve been involved in commemorations for the Great Escape, the Long March and Gallipoli. As a dutiful Padre I got stuck into some research, which for me was learning via You Tube and Netflix (other viewing platforms are available ).

I’ve never thought of myself as a history geek, but I think I am gradually becoming one!

I found the stories and the experiences pulled me in, to learn about the context, the politics and then what we can take from those experiences into today. I felt more connected to the past, but also to the people around me as we were learning together.

I wonder how you feel about learning. Or perhaps we should use the cheesy, but apt term, ‘expanding your mind’. You see, to learn, to try new things and to experiment, to research and then put that into practice, to feel like we are growing and not being static is an element in life which can improve our wellbeing.

I remember when I left school thinking that I was free from learning, that I could now get stuck in to ‘real life’. I wanted to prove that I was good enough, that I could succeed, that I had finished the learning bit and that I was capable (I know, not the humility you want to see in a Padre!). It took me a while to realise that the negative experience of learning I had at school was not the kind of learning that would be a process and a journey through the rest of life.

If I had never learnt anything after I finished school, I wouldn’t have; been skydiving, know how to knit and crochet, be a Padre, bake cookies, be married for 18 years, have raised two children, be able to kind of work Excel (I mean… that is the

most epic of skills!). What have you learnt since you left school? And how do you learn best?

When we learn and do new things we grow in resilience as we will probably fail (we’re all human), we’ll develop our determination, and we’ll flourish in our achievements as we develop new talents and also see the bigger picture of our history and the world and figure out how we belong. Learning, both new skills and more about the world around us, improves our self-esteem and builds confidence.

So, how do you best learn, how can you explore more of the world and new skills this summer? And as you do, you will become more you!

GETTING BACK ON TRACK

When former RAF technician Matt struggled to find the right support when he suffered a stroke aged 44, the RAF Association stepped in to help him get his dignity back.

Although a serious skiing accident put an end to Matt’s career in the RAF, he was forging a new path for himself working as a contractor for various organisations, including the MOD. He was also in the process of renovating his house, which he shares with wife Sarah and their two daughters (pictured). A few weeks before Christmas 2021, Matt was six weeks into a new job when he felt quite unwell. Assuming it was flu, he didn’t give it much more thought. However, the next day, Matt found he was gradually becoming more unsteady on his feet. It was when he couldn’t raise his arms above his head, that Sarah suggested they call 111. They were advised to go the hospital immediately.

After a long wait in A&E, it was discovered that Matt had suffered a stroke. He found himself on a ward, where the damage caused by his stroke began to take hold. He lost the use of his left arm and leg, and his face began to droop on his left side.

Because the damage had already been done, there was little

hospital staff could do. To make matters worse, the lockdown meant Matt couldn’t have visitors, so he was alone.

“It was a bit of a roller coaster - I was really upset and my emotions were going mad. I couldn't look at a picture of my kids without ending up in floods of tears. I actually did my last

will and testament on my phone because I didn't think I would be able to write it. And I did a video to my kids to say goodbye. I really thought I was going to die.”

Thankfully Matt regained the use of his leg, and although he had lost the use of his left arm, he was well enough to go home and spend Christmas with his family.

Matt’s worries turned to the family home, which he was in the middle of renovating. With the main bathroom being upstairs, Matt struggled to access it following his stroke. He was also determined to be as independent as possible.

“The downstairs bathroom was just a big hole in the corner of the house. Having to go upstairs to use the loo wasn’t ideal. I’m also stubborn, fierce and proud about that stuff. I didn’t want to be helped getting to the bathroom or anything like that.”

After struggling to find appropriate support, one of Matt’s friends suggested the RAF Association might be able to help him make things better at home. The Association was able to secure funding through the RAF Benevolent Fund for Matt to finish the downstairs bathroom, making everyday activities much easier for him.

“Now I’ve got my own bathroom space. It’s been modified to be practical for me to use without help. It's set up for me, so it's great. I'm going to get my RAF memorabilia on the wall once I get it framed – Sarah won’t let me have a golden toilet seat though!”

Matt was also able to secure further funding to adapt his car so he could drive it using just his right arm. This has allowed him to gradually return to work and get his life back on track.

“When something like this happens, you need a lifeline. And that’s where the Association came in and helped me. The progress I’ve made so far wouldn’t have happened if I hadn't been able to get my car adapted or to get the bathroom sorted. I wouldn't be back at work in the way I am now. I wouldn’t be in such a good place - I would still be struggling.

“I'm just massively grateful across the board to everybody at the Association who helped me. They were really attentive, they listened to what I was saying, and we were able to work together to achieve a fantastic outcome.”

www.rafa.org.uk

RAFA OPENS THREE NEW RAFAKIDZ NURSERIES

The RAF Association celebrated the opening of three new RAFAKidz nurseries in April, supporting RAF High Wycombe: High Wycombe, Walter's Ash and Medmenham.

Created by the RAF Association in 2019, RAFAKidz is designed to meet the needs of military and civilian families in the community around RAF stations, providing affordable and quality childcare. The new nurseries, along with RAFAKidz’s existing sites at RAF Leeming, Brize Norton, Odiham, Cranwell and Digby, means that RAFAKidz can offer even more military families trusted, affordable and quality childcare, either on or close to an RAF station. Earlier this year, RAFAKidz Leeming, which provides childcare for children aged 0-11 years at the RAF station near Northallerton, celebrated its one-year anniversary.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited the nursey to join in the celebrations, meeting the children of military personnel, nursery keyworkers and representatives of the RAF Association. He even got involved in a play activity!

Mr Sunak said: “RAF personnel and their families contribute a huge amount in the Service of their country, and deal with some unique challenges in doing so. I am delighted to have been able to visit RAFAKidz Leeming as they celebrate their one-year anniversary and see first-hand the positive impact the nursery has on the children and the serving community here at RAF Leeming.”

www.rafakidz.org.uk

Scotty’s Little Soldiers open new lodge for bereaved military children at Devon Cliffs Haven

Scotty’s Little Soldiers, the charity for bereaved military children and young people, officially opened their seventh Scotty lodge for bereaved Forces families recently.

As well as offering a range of support to children and young people, aged 0 – 25, who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces, Scotty’s Little Soldiers provides respite breaks to give bereaved military families a chance to get away from their daily routines and make new happy memories together. Because the break is organised by Scotty’s, families naturally have conversations about their loved one who has died. It’s an opportunity to talk in a safe environment away from home.

The new lodge, based at Devon Cliffs Haven, was unveiled in an opening ceremony attended by Scotty’s founder, Nikki Scott, the Palin family, who are supported by the charity, and representatives from Forces Support, who have generously funded the entire costs associated with the new lodge. The ceremony involved the cutting of a ribbon and a celebration with cake, balloons and a special visit from Haven’s mascots.

The Palin family, from Plymouth, have been supported by Scotty’s since 2013. Cpl Mark Palin was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2011, aged 33. He left behind his wife Carla and son Lennon, who was just one at the time. Their daughter, Ruby, was born a few months after his death. The Palins have benefited from a range of support from Scotty’s, including breaks away.

Lennon, who is now 13 years old, said: “To me, Scotty breaks mean having fun and enjoying yourself. Rather than being sat at home on the Xbox, we get to go out, do stuff and have a good time as a family.”

11-year-old Ruby said:

“Scotty’s is really special. It’s got a special place in my heart. You know if there are other people here from Scotty’s, you can relate to them.”

Their mum Carla added:

“The new lodge is amazing. You get to have some time away from life and school and work and just come away and be a family and make great memories together. That’s really important to me because Lennon and Ruby weren’t able to make any memories with their dad.”

Forces Support is a UK bereavement and veterans’ charity who have shown their dedication to Forces families by providing Scotty’s Little Soldiers with funding to cover the costs of the new lodge. They previously funded all Scotty’s respite breaks for the whole of 2021 and have continued their support by funding breaks for 100 bereaved military families each year from 2022 to 2024.

Carol Reynolds, CEO of Forces Support, said, “Forces Support are delighted to have been able to fully fund the purchase of a new lodge, based at Devon Cliffs Holiday Park, on behalf of Scotty’s Little Soldiers. We hope that all the families who visit enjoy their stay and benefit from the chance to spend some quality time together making new happy memories."

Nikki with Ruby, Lennon and Haven's mascot

Scotty’s founder, Nikki, set up Scotty’s Little Soldiers in 2010 following the death of her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, in Afghanistan. The first thing she wanted to do was to give bereav military children the opportunity to go on a respite break. This idea occurred to her on a family holiday nine months after her husband’s death, when she saw her son, Kai – who was 5 at the time – playing in the swimming pool and smile for the first time since his dad had died. Nikki wanted to give other bereaved Forces children the same opportunity to smile.

Nikki said: “As soon as I saw the positive impact a holiday had on my family, I wanted to provide breaks for other bereaved Forces families. Including our new lodge at Devon Cliffs, Scotty’s now has seven holiday homes, which means more bereaved military families can have that much-needed break, spend some quality time together, have those really important conversations about their loved one and remember that it’s okay to smile. That’s what it’s all about.”

Nikki continued: “We are so grateful to Forces Support for their incredible generosity which enables us to make a difference to the lives of children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.”

Scotty’s respite breaks take place all over the UK, with six more lodges located around UK Haven sites, including one other at Devon Cliffs, just a short walk from the brand-new lodge. Due to the number of families the charity supports, Scotty’s also provides breaks at Butlins, Alton Towers and Center Parcs.

Scotty’s Little Soldiers provides relief from the effects of bereavement to children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. Services offered to Scotty’s members include access to child bereavement support, guidance to parents and carers, personal education and learning assistance (including grants), and fun activities such as holiday respite breaks and group events. These are all designed to remind the children and young people supported by Scotty’s that they are not alone.

Further information

• www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk

• www.forcessupport.org.uk

So far this year, Scotty’s has supported over 600 bereaved children and young people, and the charity has a long-term goal of supporting 1000 bereaved military children and young people annually by 2030.

Scotty's founder, Nikki, with her son, Kai, outside the new lodge

Nikki with the Palin family at new lodge

Scotty's founder Nikki with her family before Lee went on tour

BOWEL CANCER AWARENESS – A PERSONAL JOURNEY

Sgt Ian Trushell shared with the RAFFF about his personal journey with bowel cancer back in April to reflect and help others during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. We purposely wanted to include it again here in this edition of Envoy to help others.

Ian has served in the Royal Air Force as an ICT Tech for over 23 years and is based at RAF Boulmer. In 2022, aged 47, Ian was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. He has to date, had eight cycles of chemotherapy in an effort to reduce the metastasis in his liver and in the origin of the the cancer, the bowel.

The facts surrounding Bowel Cancer (taken from Bowel Cancer UK)

• Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer.

• Nearly 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK.

• Around 268,000 people living in the UK today have been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

• More than nine out of ten new cases (94%) are diagnosed in people over the age of 50. More than 2,600 new cases are diagnosed each year in people under the age of 50.

• 1 in 15 men and 1 in 18 women will be diagnosed with bowel cancer during their lifetime.

Ian adds: “I’d been feeling unwell for a while, my fitness levels were dropping off, but I just put it down to age, the stresses of daily life and a long-held belief that I was dairy intolerant, I’d just lay off the chocolate for a while and get on with life, but in Jul 22, following a bowel movement which revealed blood, I realised that I had to get it checked out. A colonoscopy soon followed and the doctor who carried out the procedure told me there and then that he had seen, in his opinion, a cancerous growth in the upper bowel area, a biopsy was taken, and I was given the news on the 31 Aug 22 that it was cancerous and had, unfortunately, spread to my liver.

That moment was surreal, nothing in life prepares you for this, it was like I was viewing my ordeal as an observer, the news didn’t sink in straight away. It was like I was living a bad dream - my wife and I took weeks to process the news. I remember holding her shortly afterwards, both breaking into tears and feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt for what I was and will put her through; but the hardest part was breaking the news to our three children. I remember watching my youngest son make himself lunch, I tried to picture what he would look like in 10 years’ time and realised that I may not have that opportunity. I broke down and walked away before he could notice. This is overwhelmingly the hardest part, knowing that I may not be there for my children in the future, to guide them through life and continue to be a father for them. They do now know about my illness, I took my dogs for a long walk and my wife, Sarah, broke the news to them. I try to show them that it’s not impacting me too much, it’s all I can do to give them a semblance of normality”.

As Ian is a serving member of the RAF, he has access to the many Royal Air Force Charities available. These charities provide vital funding and welfare support. Ian was given a grant by the RAF Benevolent Fund to purchase a treadmill to aid his fitness levels in preparation for any potential surgery he may face. The RAF has also continued to give full pay and allowed him to claim money back on the cost of travelling to the hospital and parking fees.

Ian goes on to say: “For all that has happened in the past six months, I am so grateful to be part of the RAF, the financial aspect of being diagnosed with cancer is huge, so for civilians the burdens following diagnosis can be overwhelming and will only make a nightmare situation even worse. Being in the RAF means these worries can be secondary and that I can concentrate solely on my treatment. I still receive full pay, and while my Oncology team are entirely NHS, the Medical Centre and support network have been fantastic in accommodating my many needs, such as blood tests or just to chat about my ordeal. It feels contradictory to say that I consider myself fortunate, but being able to enjoy the beautiful scenery that Northumberland has to offer and having a fantastic welfare support system that the RAF offers has made my ordeal so much more tolerable and uncomplicated as can be.

“I simply do not know what the next few years will bring. My life is different now with different priorities.” What would I say to someone who suspects something isn’t right with their body?

“Get it checked out ASAP. cancer doesn’t discriminate, and it is estimated that 1 in 2 people will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime. I didn’t think it would happen to me, I’ve ran marathons, never failed a RAF Fitness Test, never smoked, barely drink and always kept a healthy weight, but it did. It literally can happen to anyone.”

Ian Trushell

Ian Trushell and his family

SUPPORTING RAF PERSONNEL

When Flight Sergeant Sam Parsley experienced mental health problems, counselling arranged through the RAF Benevolent Fund’s Wellbeing Services helped put him on the road to recovery.

Sam, whose role in the RAF involves running four component bays producing replacement parts for the Chinook aircraft, started experiencing mental health problems in 2021.

He said: “In 2021, a perfect storm developed in my life. I was worrying about lots of things at once, including whether to leave the RAF or go for a promotion where I would have to move and leave my children. Then something just tripped, and I had a bit of a breakdown.”

According to Sam, these new feelings of anxiety came on almost overnight – one day he was dealing with everything fine and the next he had woken up with a constant feeling of dread.

Sam said: “After two or three days I realised this was something out of the ordinary, and that’s where I was referred to the Fund, who put me in touch with Barbara, a cognitive behavioural therapist.”

Being an engineer, Sam’s initial thoughts were “something is wrong, I just need it fixed,” however, after speaking with Barbara, he realised it would take some time to deal with the root cause of the issue – there wasn’t going to be a ‘quick fix.’

Sam added: “I was given tools to recognise when I’ve got too much on my plate, so it doesn’t get to that stage again.

Eventually, I got a grip of it. I was able to wake up without feeling I was fighting for my life. I was able to take all my problems and, one at a time, dissect them and solve them.”

Sam still uses those tools today – known as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – and no longer experiences any form of anxiety.

He said: “If somebody was thinking about applying to the Fund for help, I would say do it – that's what it’s there for! It's funded by generous donations and military personnel for that exact reason. I'd like to personally thank the RAF Benevolent Fund for the work they did with myself, as well as the ongoing work they do with current service members, veterans and their families.”

www.rafbf.org.uk

Help the RAF Benevolent Fund help the RAF Family

The RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity, is carrying out a significant piece of research into understanding barriers to members of the RAF Family coming forward for help.

It is an important project that intends to explore in depth, the personal experiences of the RAF Family in relation to perceived barriers to accessing help that currently exist.

The study involves a short survey which also gives an opportunity to participate

in a further interview with the Fund’s research team. The findings will hopefully identify the barriers affecting people from seeking help and also steps to overcome these challenges to accurately deliver the RAF Benevolent Fund’s services to meet the needs of those who require it most.

The Fund is asking members of the RAF Family – including serving members, RAF veterans and spouses – to fill out a quick two minute survey at www.rafbf.org/barriers.

The Fund appreciates and values the opinions of the RAF community and thanks all of those who have completed the survey.

“The Fund helped me deal with my anxiety and for that I’m very grateful”

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF… AUDRA BISHOP

RAF Hive Information Officer

Having served in the RAF for 9 years, which I left for family reasons, I decided the next best thing was to join the Civil Service, and obviously love it as I’ve been at RAF Coningsby as a Civil Servant for 26 years. I started as an admin assistant in Work Services, moved to the Med Centre a year later and stayed there for 18 1/2 years as their receptionist.

In Sep 2016 I was promoted to admin officer into the HIVE Information Officer post. This is a very diverse role, which is both challenging but very rewarding.

RAF HIVE Service forms part of the wider Community Support within Station level and their dispersed Service communities, often being the first point of contact for Service personnel and their family members through the provisions of:

• Information on relocation

• Accommodation

• Local station and civilian facilities

• Deployment

• Health and wellbeing

• Employment and training opportunities

• Childcare and education

• Places of interest

As a RAF HIVE Information Officer, we are trained to offer initial support to our people and know how to make referrals to appropriate professional services and agencies, although we are not formally trained in welfare counselling. All HIVE staff are bound to a Code of Confidentiality.

With being a front-line flying station, RAF Coningsby has many Service personnel deploying, consequently our enquiries predominately relate to information, support, and resources available along with events being held in the area. RAF Coningsby HIVE Service provides the conduit for communication on station, sharing information across all platforms.

A typical day starts with…

Making my morning cuppa whilst the IT is warming up, followed by checking and responding to enquires received from out of working hours. There are never two days the same, which makes it interesting and requires me to be reactive and adaptable. As a customer facing service, I ensure I provide a professional service by greeting everyone with friendly smile when visiting the office.

My lunchtimes are mostly spent at the gym, circuit training so I can eat cake without feeling guilty

I view myself approachable, caring and provide a good customer experience supporting enquiries. I really enjoy my post as a Civil Servant and love my role as the RAF HIVE Information Officer to the service community at RAF Coningsby.

Audra

• Wycliffe supports the Continuity of Education Allowance Scheme from the Ministry of Defence with a very generous Forces’ Bursary - you only pay 10% of the school fees yourself

• In addition to paying only 10% of the school fees, Forces Families do not pay any deposit

• Military families have been welcomed and supported at Wycliffe for 140 years

• Wycliffe is a global community welcoming over 120 pupils from across the world

• No compulsory Exeats and travel arranged to UK airports

• 33% of our Boarders are from Military families

Set in beautiful 52 acre grounds in the Cotswolds, just 2 miles from the M5 and a 5 minute walk from the train station with a direct route to Paddington.

Logan, age 10

I enjoyed reading the book because of the detail about the hangers and aircrafts. The way it was described reminded me of when I visited a hanger. My favourite bit was when they discovered the dragon egg and hatched it. It was exciting when they flew the dragon in the race and that they saved Claude. I think it's a very good book for anyone who loves dragons and aircrafts.

Scarlet, age 9

I enjoyed reading the book because it was about flying. I liked that the main character was a girl and interested in aircrafts. It was exciting when they discovered the egg and when it hatched. My favourite bit was when they got to fly with the dragon. I liked the ending and was happy Kitty got to have flying lessons in a plane like she wanted.

Nicholas, age 9

I really enjoyed this book because it was such an exciting adventure for Kitty and Harris, the main characters. My favourite part of the story was when Red, the dragon, started eating the biplane! I really loved the illustrations and the way it was written. I liked the key message to help others before yourself. If you are looking for a brilliant book that’s a real page turner, I would definitely recommend Dragonracers by Peter Bunzl!

Take part in Reading Force and share books with your family

We post you books to share and chat about, together at home or over video calls if separated due to deployments. We’ll also send a scrapbook for you to fill with thoughts about the book, emails, letters, drawings, and photographs. And we have a special journal for teens. Families say doing Reading Force is a good way to stay close, connected, and to keep communicating. Best of all, it’s fun! To receive your free scrapbook and book, pick up a scrapbook from your children’s school, HIVE, or go to the family page on the Reading Force website and register online: www.readingforce.org.uk

If your children would like to review books for this Envoy & Reading Force Book Corner, please get in touch with Hattiehattie@readingforce.org.uk - with your children’s names and ages.

For this summer’s Book Corner we asked RAF children to tell us what they think of Dragonracers by Peter Bunzl, published by Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99.

Nicholas

Logan and Scarlet

Outstanding Education with World Class Facilities

To find out more on our open events scan the QR code:

Boarding From Years 5 to 13

WYMONDHAM

COLLEGE FLOREAT

State Day and Boarding School with boarding fees from £13,000 per year

To find out more on our open events scan the QR code:

Since 1945, MAF has used planes to change the lives of the most isolated people in need. Operating over 120 light aircraft in more than 25 countries, we are the world’s largest humanitarian air service.

If you are looking for a new challenge, we are seeking committed Christians to work as aviation managers, country directors, aircraft engineers, experienced pilots as well as teachers, accountants and IT technicians

For our latest vacancies, scan the QR code or visit: www.maf-uk.org/envoy1

Habeo ut dem, if you’d like the Latin. It’s a phrase each Tudor Hall girl will interpret differently. ‘Having’ can mean everything from your daughter’s individual talents… to sharing in the warmth of the collective school spirit… to accessing our international network of projects and Old Tudorians. ‘Giving’ can be small moments of friendship, deep development of skills or growing into leadership roles aiming to better the world. Come and explore the school (and the question) with us. Founded in 1850, vitalised in 1939 by Headmistress Nesta Inglis, settled in Wykham Park in Oxfordshire in 1946, Tudor Hall is one of the oldest girls’ boarding and day schools in Britain.

To arrange a visit, email admissions@tudorhallschool.com or phone us on 01295 756259 www.tudorhallschool.com

Rookwood School

Rookwood School is an independent day and boarding school for pupils aged from 2 to 18 located on an eight-acre site just a short walk from Andover town centre and railway station.

Weyhill Road, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 3AL receptiondesk@rookwoodschool.org

www.rookwoodschool.org

St. Francis’ College

Day and boarding | Ages 3 to 18, girls school

St. Francis' College is a day & boarding school for girls aged 3 to 18 and boys aged 3 to 7. St Francis’ is located in leafy Letchworth Garden City with easy links to both London and Cambridge.

Broadway, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, SG6 3PJ admissions@st-francis.herts.sch.uk www.st-francis.herts.sch.uk

Saint Felix School

Set in 75 acres of countryside, near the coastal town of Southwold, Saint Felix School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school for 2 to 18 year olds.

Halesworth Road, Reydon, Southwold, IP18 6SD

schooladmin@stfelix.co.uk www.stfelix.co.uk

Create a safe and secure world, together

This is Babcock’s purpose. It defines our strategy, what we do and how we do it. We provide a range of products and services which enhance defence capabilities, helping our customers achieve their missions. We help military and civil customers around the world to cost effectively improve the capability, reliability and availability of their most critical assets.

We know that in your military career, you have been committed to helping create a safe and secure world too. That’s why Babcock would like to hear from you. The skills and experience you have gained during your Service could be the perfect fit to help us support our customers.

We have an enviable track record of supporting service leavers into challenging and rewarding careers and we can help you make the transition too.

Babcock offers many benefits to Service Leavers and Reservists, including:

Guaranteed interview as long as you meet the minimum requirements for the role

Up to 10 days of special paid leave for reservist duties

Training

Career opportunities and progression

Our commitment

Employee Share Ownership Scheme

Occupational Health Services

Salary Sacrifice benefits e.g. childcare vouchers; cycle to work scheme

With a variety of vacancies across the UK, Babcock has challenging and rewarding opportunities waiting for you.

Our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) has been recognised with a Gold Award from the AFC’s Employer Recognition Scheme

If you are considering a new career then visit our website and register to receive job adverts at https://jobs.babcockinternational.com/talentcommunity/subscribe or email: armedforcescareers@babcockinternational.com for more information.

Become a member

United in support. Always.

Share a special and lasting connection with every member of the RAF community.

When you join, you’ll stand united with thousands of other members across the UK and around the world. Your membership will enable us reach out to members of the RAF community who urgently need help and support.

Join us as a member and you’ll share an unbreakable bond with those who have given so much for our freedom.