Page 10 - issue08.03.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, March 8, 2019 P10

News

CHARITY REVIEW
RAFA revamp to boost welfare support

Lawrence McGowan The charity has launched a employee and union consultation.
consultation with employees and No decisions have yet been made.” SERVICE REVIEW:
PLANS TO meet the growing the GMB union, on proposals to People with current bookings Royal Air Force
demand for welfare services from restructure its welfare teams across have been notified of the plan. Association welfare
veterans and serving personnel England and Wales. Last year the Association carried director Rory O’Connor
have been announced by the Royal If implemented, the changes out more than 115,000 welfare
Air Forces Association. would create fewer but larger contacts, calls and visits, helped
Proposals by the charity’s trustees, regional offices, and move all tell thousands of bedtime stories to
described as ‘ambitious’ by welfare branch welfare activity under children whose parents were away on
director Rory O’Connor, follow an centralised RAF Association operations, and gave tailored holidays
extensive review and a major welfare governance. to 2,500 RAF veterans and their
survey of 74,000 members. He said the restructuring families at their Wings Breaks hotels.
He told RAF News: “Demand for programme will simplify The charity is also heavily
our welfare services is increasing communications and improve involved in the refurbishment
and growing in complexity. delivery of welfare services. of RAF contact houses, used by
“Ever-changing regulation and The Association is also serving parents to spend time with
legislation bring the problems into consulting on a proposal to close their children, and the provision of
sharp focus. one of its three Wings Breaks hotels, Wi-Fi on RAF stations.
“To fulfil our charitable vision which provide subsidised holidays It is also supporting serving
we must be fit for the future. For and respite breaks for RAF veterans personnels’ mental health by
this reason we are exploring where and their families. providing training to their partners
our strengths lie and where we can Rory said: “A review focusing to help them recognise early
make improvements.” primarily on future legislative signs that there may be a need for
He added: “Through a trustee compliance found that the professional help.
board-led initiative, a great deal fundamental building structure of Rory added: “Our charity is
of time and expertise has been Richard Peck House in Lytham St going from strength to strength,
invested in reviewing our welfare Annes is reaching the limit of its and we have to make decisions to
delivery and the effectiveness ability to remain compliant. ensure we can continue to support
and regulatory compliance of our “A proposal to close the hotel is the RAF family as well as we
respite hotels.” now subject to the outcome of an possibly can.”

DEFENCE AGREEMENT LGBT CAMPAIGN
Boscombe marks diversity date

George Hannaford

THE BRITISH military’s first
openly transgender officer
joined members of the RAF’s
campaigning Freedom Network
to mark LGBT history month at
Boscombe Down.
Air Force navigator Flt Lt
Caroline Paige became the first
GULF ALLY: Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson signs agreement with Oman defence transgender member of personnel
minister His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib Al-Busaidi to serve on the frontline,
Oman Gulf security pledge completing tours in Bosnia, Iraq
and Afghanistan.
She transitioned in 1999 and
remained in service until
Staff Reporter significant reinforcement of our retiring after 35 years in
mutual security. the RAF and has become
THE UK and Oman have signed a new “Gulf security is our security, a leading figure in the
Joint Defence Agreement to develop and it is crucial that we expand our Forces LGBT community.
military cooperation and strengthen horizons and become a truly global More than 100
security in the Gulf region. Britain after we leave the European personnel from across
The move follows the largest Union.” defence attended the
exercise by the UK’s military with A new joint military training conference at the
5,500 troops travelling to Oman to area will be established in the Wiltshire military
hone land, air and sea capabilities. country later this year giving the base.
Speaking after signing the UK a permanent presence in the
agreement Defence Secretary country. PIONEER:
Gavin Williamson said: “This is The UK government will spend Frontline helicopter
an historic landmark moment £3 billion across the Gulf over the pilot Flt Lt Caroline
between our two nations and is a next 10 years, a spokesman said. Paige at Boscombe

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