Summer holidays can be a tricky time for all working parents and carers, with many facing additional pressures from juggling those long school breaks. So, it’s no surprise that holiday provision regularly features in Community Needs Analysis feedback across stations.
With that in mind. the RAF People and Families Team is working with the RAF Benevolent Fund to pilot a new scheme, offering additional holiday provision at five of our stations this summer.
But it’s not just about opening the community centre doors for a few weeks. We want children and young people from RAF families to enjoy safe, meaningful, and memorable experiences during the break.
Each pilot is tailored to the needs of the local community and led by the station Community Development Officer, in partnership with specialist organisations. Activities will be fun, accessible, and affordable - ranging from sport and music to arts, trips off-station and more.
What we can guarantee, is that there will be a lot of laughter from the children and, we’re willing to bet, sighs of relief from working parents. The provision is open to members of the Whole Force.
It’s not just about fun for the kids - this is designed to reduce stress on parents and carers, allowing them to focus on their duties and maintain operational effectiveness at unit level.
The pilot will be monitored closely by both the Community Development Team and the RAF Benevolent Fund to assess impact - on the young people, on families, and on the Chain of Command. The findings will shape future provision and could lead to a broader rollout in the coming years.
The stations in the pilot are: Odiham, High Wycombe, Coningsby, Valley and Lossiemouth.
"We’re working really hard within the RAF, across Defence and with our Charity Partners to find new and innovative ways to support our families.
So many of our people have family commitments and, quite rightly, they are at the forefront of their minds when planning both for the short and longer-term. If we can expand childcare support, we can mitigate some of their concerns and enable our people to focus on their operational duties, without worrying about loved ones at home.
Our Charity Partners are integral to this work and we would like to publicly acknowledge the important role they play in developing new ways to support our families."
Air Commodore Chris Todd
Head People and Families Support