The Army Families Federation (AFF) is delighted that after five years of lobbying on their behalf, Foreign & Commonwealth (F&C) Army families should now find the process of applying for a visa to enter the UK much easier and fairer, thanks to the addition of an ‘Armed Forces’ option on the form.
Since 2013, when the new Armed Forces immigration rules came into effect, all non-EEA family members of soldiers wishing to apply for a visa to enter the UK have had to use an online form.
Read moreOn Wednesday 7th March Reading Force launched at Colinton Primary School, Edinburgh, with special guest author, Vivian French. Vivian has written 300 children’s books, including the The Cherry Pie Princess, the Knights in Training series, and most recently Robe of Skulls.
As well as giving the children an inspiring and fun day with a real-life author, the launch raised awareness of Reading Force, the shared reading charity for military families, and how children and families can get involved.
Read moreThe Army Families Federation (AFF) is pleased to announce a serious of additional needs support groups aimed at increasing Army families’ wellbeing and confidence through increased support.
Thanks to funding from ABF, The Soldiers’ Charity, these new groups will not only support and empower families who have children with additional needs and/or disability, but will also allow AFF to develop their understanding of what support is needed, and what gaps in provision families are experiencing.
Military personnel are renowned for their fantastic parenting due to the discipline, camaraderie and dependability which they develop as a result of their career. However, assumptions and stereotypes surrounding the Armed Forces can often make it difficult for serving personnel to adopt through local authorities.
SSAFA, the UK’s oldest Armed Forces charity, understands the particular challenges that military families face during the adoption process, and has been helping the community to adopt for over 30 years through their unique SSAFA Adoption Service.
Read moreHere at Give Us Time, we were all inspired by the speech HRH Prince Harry gave at the Veterans Mental Health Conference.
In particular, how Prince Harry stressed the importance of working all together to make a change: ‘All of the successful steps we’ve taken so far have involved collaboration, and I urge all of you to commit to greater openness and coordination so we can make this change together’.
Read moreThe Service Children’s Progression (SCiP) Alliance is committed to enabling Service children to make informed and confident transitions through further and higher education and into thriving adult lives.The Alliance is asking all professionals who have an interest in the educational attainment and progression of Service children to help inform our future strategy and activity plans. If your role involves supporting the children of military personnel please help to shape the future of the SCiP Alliance by telling us how we can make our work most helpful for you.
Read moreHas your Army family been posted overseas in the last three years? Have you returned to the UK after an overseas posting? The Army Families Federation (AFF) has released a new survey to help them to gain a better understanding of the impact of an overseas posting on Army families.
They want to hear about your family life overseas: what works well and where improvement is needed compared to Army life in the UK.
Blind Veterans UK, a local charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, is inviting local residents to join them for an afternoon of Easter-themed family fun.
The event, Easter Family Fun, will involve a range of Easter-themed art activities, including cake decorating and a blindfolded woodland egg-chime trail, giving participants the chance to win a basket of exciting Easter-themed prizes. It will take place from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday 31 March at the charity’s training and rehabilitation centre in Llandudno, North Wales.
Read moreFollow this link for all the latest news from the RAF Families Federation.
Read moreThe Legion’s handy van service helps ex-Service people and their families with small household repairs and minor adaptations.
The Legion has handy vans in 21 counties across the country, and partnerships with other organisations that offer the same service in areas where we don’t operate. Staff begin to assess properties as soon as they arrive, checking the state of doors, windows, security lights and fences.
Like many in the team, Chris comes from a military background and served for just under 14 years in the Royal Engineers: “I love it. I get to meet some fantastic people and hear all their stories”
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Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here
