Alexandra Aspinall NFF Regional Liaison Officer Wales and West of England

Who We Are and What We Do We are independent organisations We provide information, advice and signposting support to Armed Forces families We represent the concerns of Armed Forces families and provide evidence to a range of individuals and bodies such as: –Government Ministers, H of C Select Committees –Defence Chiefs of Staff –Central Government Departments such as the MoD, Departments for Work and Pensions (DWP), Department for Education and NHS organisations –Devolved Administrations –Covenant Reference Group –Local authorities

Director Anna Wright Head Office Portsmouth Regional Team Scotland & Northern Ireland Midlands North of England Wales & West of England South of England Who We Are and Where We Are Head Office Director Deputy Director Strategy Coordinator Enquiries Manager Information Executive Data Coordinator Marketing Manager Homeport Editor Head Office Director Deputy Director Strategy Coordinator Enquiries Manager Information Executive Data Coordinator Marketing Manager Homeport Editor

Who We Are and Where We Are Director Bill Mahon Armed Forces Covenant Managers North Midlands South Communications Team Website Facebook Envoy Twitter Head Office Team Wittering Evidence Team Housing Reserves Health Education

NAVY  30,200 Serving members of the Naval Service  2,600 Maritime Reserves  Approx. 5,000 families live in SFA  Majority of Naval Service families live in their own homes, in civilian communities, around the UK ARMY  89,000 Full-time Serving Personnel  24,000 Reserve Personnel  10% of Army personnel & families live overseas  Approx. 24,000 Army Families live in SFA, with another 30% living in private accommodation RAF  33,000 Full time Regular personnel  1800 Part time Reserve personnel  There are approx. 11,690 RAF Personnel located in the South  Approx. 65% of RAF families own their own home and others live in SFA on, or near to, RAF bases

What are the Key Issues for Families? Mobility Separation – deployment, training and unaccompanied assignments Access to health and social care services Children’s education Housing Employment for spouses/partners Transition to civilian life

“ I’ve been married for 17 years. In that time I’ve had two children, 11 houses, seven jobs, found three child minders, three nurseries and four schools for the children, given birth in two different hospitals, registered with 12 GPs and seven dentists (I confess there were a few years when I didn’t bother), moved overseas and moved back again, kissed him goodbye on deployment eight times (and several months later hello), had 19 hairdressers (it often takes a while to find one you like), made half a dozen lifelong friends and left behind many more good ones along the way……”

Mobility Some Service families live highly mobile lifestyles, moving every 18 months – 3 years due to assignment Personnel may express a preference but assignments are largely determined by Service need Assignments may be at short notice and at any time of year and may be as individuals or as large units The nature of Service life means that Armed Forces families must be flexible Many personnel choose to buy their own homes to provide family stability - this can alleviate some of the issues normally associated with mobility, but means that many families are apart during the working week or for longer periods

Separation Can be due to deployment, training or unaccompanied assignments Despite the withdrawal from Afghanistan, Armed Forces personnel continue to be deployed around the world Deployments can last up to nine months and often involve pre- deployment training too, which leads to longer absences Families have to be flexible as they can often be lone-families for extended periods of time Often families live away from family support and/or in isolated areas which creates further isolation

Education – what are the issues? Access to “good” schools Access to free schools and academies Changes to national assessment framework Lack of flexibility in statutory timetable for admissions Projected shortfall of reception school places Continuity of support for children with special educational needs Term time absences

Health & Social Care – What are the issues? Waiting lists times Continuity of treatment Local variation in provision Transfer of medical notes Crossing borders – LAs, devolved administrations and overseas Transition to civilian life – particularly for more vulnerable families Registration of children of dual serving parents Dental and orthodontic services Social care

Barriers to Accessing Health & Social Care Services Little or no understanding that at times of mobility and separation health and social care needs may create additional stressors and anxieties for Armed Forces families Local variation in health and social care provision between CCGs and LAs Poor communication between families and service providers Managing expectations on both sides Lack of awareness of the AF Covenant and its provisions

Housing – what are the issues? Lack of recognition of separated and divorced Service families under the Armed Forces Covenant in access to social housing Council tax discounts on service families’ homes are not universally applied and do not apply when posted overseas Financial penalties imposed by mortgage providers to grant “Consent to Let” on a residential mortgage to enable service families to rent out their home during posting (especially overseas)

What can we do to help you? Provide evidence of key issues affecting Armed Forces families Share good practice from other organisations and Government departments Facilitate communications between you and the Armed Forces Community, particularly families Make you aware of organisations that can assist and offer advice to Armed Forces families

Any questions?