Championing your cause

The new UK armed forces families’ strategy is due to be published soon by the Ministry of Defence. It’s been several years since the MOD last looked at service families’ issues in any detail, and we’re really p...

All families, everywhere

At AFF we support all types of army family and their individual needs, whether they are in a long-term relationship, living apart, a dual-serving couple, single parent or a blended family. The recently publish...

How are you?

A word from AFF Chief Exec, Sara Baade... When I first came to the UK about 20 years ago, I thought it was the kindest country in the world because everyone kept asking me how I was. Little did I understand at...

Families: The Army’s heartbeat

AFF Chief Executive Sara Baade and Major General Sharon Nesmith, the army’s new Director for Personnel, share their thoughts on the importance of supporting our service children... When I first started a...

A word from: Ever-increasing enquiries

LAST year AFF saw a 37 per cent increase in Army families coming to us for support, information and guidance, writes AFF Chief Executive Sara Baade. I’m of course delighted that so many of you trust us to he...

Engaging with Army communities

by Sara Baade, Army Families Federation Chief Executive and General Ivan Jones, Army Director Personnel THERE are key people in the Army that are important for us at AFF to engage with to ensure that your voic...

Information, consultation and consideration

IN A very useful meeting with Tobias Elwood, the Minister for Defence People and Veterans, we discussed the different policies that are currently being developed by the MOD under the ‘people programme’ – import...

A Word From: Supportability overseas

OVER the last few months, AFF has been looking at how families are supported whilst posted overseas. Many of you contact us because you are unaware of what help is available, or because you feel that the assist...

A Word From: Breaking down barriers

SOME of the most common enquiries that come to AFF are around employment and how spouses and partners can make work "work" for them, writes AFF Chief Executive Sara Baade. It's something that I feel very passi...

Effective communication

A word from Sara Baade, Army Families Federation Chief Executive IN A recent meeting, I was asked: "Why is it that Army families' morale is so low at the moment and why are they so averse to change?" At t...