SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is celebrating LGBT Adoption Week by reflecting on the developments of inclusion and diversity in its Adoption Service over the past year.
SSAFA runs an independent adoption agency that works with local authorities to provide support for anyone who is currently serving who wishes to create a family through adoption. The service has approved 328 military adopters since 1964 and offers lifelong support to families.
Read moreFollow this link to all the latest news from the RAF Families Federation.
Read moreFollow this link to all the latest news from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
Read moreThe spring edition of Army&You is out this week, packed with essential info, news and real life stories from Army families. In this issue, we take a look at how to prepare for life in civvy street – key things to consider before your soldier hangs their uniform up for the final time.
Elsewhere in the magazine, we tackle school admissions, career changes and the Armed Forces Covenant. Plus, you can meet AFF’s UK team and our first community champion!
Read moreThe Priestman family recently returned from their long weekend break at Center Parcs’ Sherwood Forest and although we don’t think they saw any sign of Robin Hood and his Merry Band of Men, the family seemed to have a good time away!
Center Parcs offers a vast number of activities available as well as a lake with a beach and the forest to explore! The Priestman’s seemed to try most of them – “we enjoyed all of the activities and had time to relax and enjoy all that Center Parcs has to offer – from the swimming pools to the high wires”
Read moreSSAFA is delighted to announce that the Annington Trust has awarded a grant of £6,000 to support SSAFA’s new Short Breaks provision in 2018. The grant will enable SSAFA to offer places on the breaks at a reduced cost to families who have a child with an additional need and/or disability.
Two weekend-long breaks will be available in spring and winter for up to 90 family members. SSAFA will work in partnership with the Calvert Trust, Exmoor which offers a safe and supportive environment specifically designed for those with physical, learning, behavioural and sensory disabilities.
Read moreFrom 21st February – 2nd March and 3rd – 11th March, a total of 27 beneficiaries – hailing from 16 difference units of the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force – will be skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado. Split into two groups, week one will include Hari Budha Magar, a former Gurkha who is attempting to become the first above-knee, double amputee to summit Mt Everest. It will also include two sets of twins; two sisters from the Royal Artillery and two brothers from the RAF Regiment and Royal Marines.
Read moreIt means thousands of Armed Forces families have again been entertained for free this winter thanks to those who have so generously supported the initiative.
The BFF Panto Bus has traveled all over the UK – visiting bases from the top of Scotland to the tip of Cornwall, Northern Ireland and Wales – as well as performing for British Armed Forces families in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Cyprus.
In total there were six tours, five different productions, visiting more than 60 locations. Audience sizes ranged from 60 to 400plus – the figure averaging out at almost 150 people a show.
Read moreFollow this link to all the latest news from the RAF Families Federation.
Read moreReading Force, the shared reading charity for all UK military families, is pleased to announce a pilot to roll out its activity in five RAF Benevolent Fund Ben Clubs, with a special launch at RAF High Wycombe Ben Club this week.
The Reading Force charity encourages military families to share books, whether at home together or separated by deployments or training – in which case books can be read over the phone, Skype or FaceTime.
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Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here
