October 2017
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We're a passionate team at AFF and believe in offering a friendly, professional and reliable face to families, wherever they are based. To join our team, check out our latest vacancies.
Meet our latest recruits Pam and Kate, both returning staff members hoping to 'hit the ground running' and offer some continuity of support for Army families.
 Pamela Davis
Current Role:
Scotland Co-ord
Previous role:
North West Co-ord
What do you love most about being a co-ordinator?
"I really enjoy meeting new Army families and knowing that AFF really does make a difference. I love meeting families across the region and learning how the different parts of the Army operate and how that affects the families."
Kate McCullough
Current Role:
Transition Liaison
Previous role:
Covenant Liaison
Why did you choose to return to AFF?
"When I last worked for AFF, I learned a great deal and developed my skills, knowledge and network. The Transition Liaison role is a great opportunity to do that again, whilst working in a field that I feel passionate about. I am proud to work for AFF - it is a professional organisation with a powerful reputation that achieves a lot. AFF is open and flexible to the needs of working parents and Army spouses, which means a lot to me at this stage in my life."
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Foreign & Commonwealth: top five tips for getting in touch
If you have an F&C related query, the F&C pages on the AFF website are full of useful information. AFF's two qualified Foreign & Commonwealth Advisors work part time and receive a high volume of enquiries.
Here are our Top 5 Tips for accessing support from AFF's F&C team:
- AFF's Foreign & Commonwealth Assistant Jessica Harriman is available Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm.
- You can contact the team via the AFF website
- Provide as much information as you can to avoid any unnecessary delays in receiving our support.
- It can take up to 10 working days to receive a response from the team. Please only chase a response within this period if you are about to be deported.
- If your query is more urgent, visit the gov.uk website where you may be able to access a government approved advisor who can meet a tight deadline. There may be a charge for this service.
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Tri-Service Transition survey: from military to civilian life, the families' journey
With a focus on transition out of the Armed Forces, the Naval, Army and RAF Families Federations are working together to garner a wide response from those families who have left the Forces in the last two years, or those who plan to leave before September 2019.
Tell us how you think the process could be improved, share your reasons for leaving and highlight the transition challenges you face.
Your feedback and opinions are vital and will inform the future work of our Transition Liaison, who is kindly funded by the Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) to support transitioning families.
Win!
The survey is simple to complete and by taking part you'll also be entered into a prize draw to win one of three HP tablets kindly donated by DXC technology.
For more information or to take part, please click here.
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 Autumn A&Y out now
Frequent mobility, chequered CVs, finding work on overseas postings and flexible work to fit around childcare are all hurdles that many families have to clear when it comes to finding employment. We take a look at how those hurdles can be overcome in this autumn's edition of Army&You.
We also hear from families who have not let their disabilities stop them from finding suitable work and the Army entrepreneurs successfully running their own businesses.
There are all our regular features and the latest news on AFF's work, some great giveaways and our popular postbag section. If you would like to contribute, get in touch!
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Covenant&You - how does the Covenant focus on families?
Commander Susie Thomson, of the MOD's Armed Forces Covenant team explains...
More than just an aspiration or a sound-bite: since 2011, the Armed Forces Covenant has delivered real, tangible benefits for Army personnel and their families. However, many families are not aware of how the Covenant can benefit them.
Practical support for families
We in the Covenant team work very closely with AFF and our aim together is to highlight how the Covenant provides practical support; what it can do for you and your family, and what it can't.
We want you to understand how to access information about the Covenant and where to turn to if you need further advice. Above all, we want you to know that Army families are valued and recognised for their invaluable contribution to their soldier's service and that we understand the challenges Service life places upon you: I write as someone who is one half of a dual-serving couple who has three children.
That's why the AFF's Covenant&You campaign is so important, and it's why BFBS will be broadcasting a series this autumn titled 'Covenant: Fact or Fiction?' which will feature answers to the most frequent Covenant queries. The AFF, welfare officers and the HIVEs are all great sources of information about the Covenant, as well as our website
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 Get to know the team: quick fire questions with our Social Media Assistant
AFF reaches around 80,000 people each month via social media, and our presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram continues to grow.
From the latest MOD news, to events, jobs and more - we cover it all and love to hear from our followers.
Nikki Durnell
AFF Social Media Assistant
Why is social media so important in helping AFF reach families?
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Most people use social media in one form or another, and with Army families living all over the world it's a really effective way for us to get information to (and from) families quickly. We share information with our followers, but families also find it convenient to contact us with their questions or concerns via our social media channels.
Do you have a typical day?
- My day is always varied, but jam-packed! I usually start by checking our inboxes and notifications and dealing with any queries that we may have received overnight. I then scan through the many Facebook groups and forums we are a member of for any posts that AFF may be able to help with. During the day I'll often be sent new content prepared by the Comms and Marketing team to share, or photos and updates from co-ordinators who are out and about visiting families.
What's the most surprising thing you've learned since taking on AFF's social media?
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The top three things I've learned are:
- How fast news travels
- That many people take advice from other people's experiences, which can sometimes be outdated or incorrect. That's where I can step in and offer clarity.
- How much of a tight knit community Forces families are, helping and supporting each other.
Although I'm not dealing with people 'face to face' I enjoy the fact that I can help families from all over the world with different enquiries. Every day is different and keeps me on my toes!
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Housing news
Good news for Army families. Thanks to AFF's hard work behind the scenes, DIO will now be reviewing some of the issues affecting proposed changes to Army families' final CAAS band, specifically related to location. No changes to final CAAS bands as a result of location will now be made until April 2018. There'll be no backdated charges applied after the review has been completed. Full details here.
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