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RAF COMMUNITY SUPPORT. Stephen Hamilton Community Support Team HQ Air Command . Scope. What do we do How do we work What are the issues we are uncovering and work with. Local Economy/ Transport System. Veterans Associations. Local Amenities. Hospitals. Police. Childcare.
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RAF COMMUNITY SUPPORT Stephen Hamilton Community Support Team HQ Air Command
Scope What do we do How do we work What are the issues we are uncovering and work with.
Local Economy/Transport System VeteransAssociations Local Amenities Hospitals Police Childcare The RAF Community ‘Ecomap’ Local Schools Service Accom Local Shops/Supermarkets The Complex RAFCommunity = Community Needs Analysis (CNA) Medical & Dental Facilities Further Education Facilities Housing Local JobMarket Station Welfare Facilitiese.g. Crèche, Clubs, NAAFI, SSAFA-FH
HQ AIR Team • 8 Uniformed staff • Command Community Development Advisor • Head SSAFA Social Work Service • RAF HIVE Manager
The HQ Role • Command Welfare Interface POC for MOD, external bodies & charities, Service Personnel & Veteran’s Agency etc) • Unit Welfare Interface (e.g. policy advice & assistance) • Specialist Welfare Support • Communication & Information • Accommodation & Families
The HQ Role • Develop & Implement RAF Welfare Strategy • Address FAMCAS ‘top 6’ issues: • Lifestyle & relationships • Information & Communication • Spouse’s Employment • Healthcare Support • Accommodation • Children’s Education
The Critical Connection RAF Community Op Effectiveness Resilience A strong sense of community and a feeling of personal and family well-being translates into military readiness, effectiveness and retention
SUPPORT TO MILITARY CHILDREN • Airplay Youth Support Programme– Major initiative by the RAFBF providing Youth Work staff through a contract with 4Children,Multi Use Games Areas and Play parks • Airplay Childcare – RAFBF funding for the development of Childcare Centres
Storybook Wings • Funded by the RAF Association (RAFA) • Initiative by the prison service • 30+ Recorders Issued • 700+ recordings so far
Support to Children • Seeking funding for material aimed at 8+ • Mp3 players • Deployment Diary • Victoria Wall Charts • Developing online Deployment Video for families & improved Deployment ‘Toolkit’ • Improved support to casualties & bereaved families (including Casualty Notifying Officer and Visiting Officer training)
RAF COMMUNITY WEBSITEwww.raf.mod.uk/community Information for wider RAF Community on: Deployment Accommodation Wellbeing Education Up-to-date news Financial
www.raf.mod.uk/community or Google ‘RAF Community’
WEBSITE FORUM FACILITY Secure two-way communication and information sharing facility for our personnel and their families. Accessible through Airspace and linked to an instant chat facility. Service person registers prior to approving up to 3 guest users. More secure than certain Social Network sites… Consider how you interact With your community
Christmas Videos 500 Recorded in 2010
Service Community Support Officers (SCSO) Focus on Housing Support & Community issues Contact with families of deployed personnel Sits within PMS - close links with CDO, Chf Clk, Padre, SSAFA, HIVE etc SLA, SSSA, SFA & SSFA 28 SCSOs
Community Development Officers (CDO) • Professionally Qualified • Community Action Plan • Schools Admissions Appeals • Childcare Facilities • Youth Work & Holiday Activities • Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs) • Represent RAF communities in Crime Reduction Partnerships, Parish Councils etc • ‘Outside wire’ remit • Report to CCDA through RCDA
SSAFA Forces Help • Independent professional & volunteer social work support • Offers confidential welfare service • Family/Relationship/Personal difficulties • Stress/Anxiety/Depression • Debt/Financial problems/Benefit advice • Illness/Disability/Special Needs • Housing/Resettlement/Medical Discharges • Bereavement/Loss/Grief • Equal Opportunities • Separation/Childcare issues
The RAF Families Federation is here to represent RAF family members, be they serving, spouses, partners, parents, children or siblings. The Federation is independent of the Chain of Command and offers a confidential, professional service. Evidence provided to RAF policy staffs, Armed Forces Pay Review Body, Air Member for Personnel, Ministers, etc. www.raf-ff.org.uk or 01780 781650
EXTERNAL AGENCIES RAFBF now pay for 6 sessions with a trained counsellor at. In 2010 RELATE carried out 1601 confidential session at a cost £91k. Also an on-line facility No charge for service however stations can make annual donations and RAFBF also pay CAB to provide financial advice services to the RAF!
RAF Benevolent Fund/RBL Joint Provision. The following Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABs) are participating in the Benefits and Money Advice Service, run in partnership by The Royal British Legion and the RAF Benevolent Fund.
STRATEGIC MATTERS OF THE MOMENT AFC/Community Covenant Defence Recovery Pathway
Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) • Eradicate disadvantages of Service Life • Ensure ‘special treatment’ (e.g. injured)
Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) Rebuilding the AFC Annual AFC Report to Parliament Healthcare, Housing & Education Recognised in Statute Coalition Government Commitments Doubled Op Allowance, Rest and and Recuperation reductions, Pupil Premium, bereaved Service Children’s scholarships etc
DEFENCE RECOVERY CAPABILITY • Trials with NHS multi disciplinary teams on transition from the RAF • Tri service approach – 30% of our personnel do not serve on RAF stations! • Liaise with the third sector imperative: • Most recent decision spending £210 million over the next 10 years: • £90 million MoD • £70 million H4H • £50 million The Royal British Legion
REACTIVE MATTERS OF THE MOMENT With the recent announcement that IVF would be offered for service personnel suffering genital injury, would sperm freezing be available prior to deployment on operations as a matter of course? Fertility Preservation is already available for those injured SP requiring it on return from operations. This process will continue to be funded by the MOD. The MOD does not provide a funded, elective fertility preservation service for service personnel prior to operational deployment.