Summer moves checklist
Packing up and moving home is probably one of the most stressful things about family life in the army, so AFF Housing Specialist Cat Calder has put together a checklist to help you get through your SFA move a...
Advocating for army family carers
Service life can be challenging at the best of times with frequent moves and times of separation, both from the serving spouse or partner and from family.
That challenge can be significantly greater when a f...
Childcare survey snapshot
Serving personnel and their families have been contacting AFF to voice their concerns about the difference in funded childcare hours across the UK and overseas. As a response to this, AFF launched a childcare...
Making firm friends
Defence Academy Friends and Families (DAFFYS) is a volunteer-run events organisation, which welcomes all those who work and serve at Shrivenham Defence Academy and their families. DAFFYS’ aim is to enable all...
Forces families make lasting memories on a SSAFA Short Break
Children with additional needs and disabilities were able to try activities like ziplining and using high ropes during a memorable weekend in the Lake District.
The short break held at the Calvert Trust in M...
Families feel the squeeze
In 2024, AFF, with the support of the other two families federations, ran a tri-service pay survey, which aimed to provide evidence directly from military families to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body.
A tota...
Fresh starts overseas
Thinking of trying something new this year, maybe a fresh start in a new sport, learning a language or just meeting people and feeling part of a community? Members of the SHAPE community share a few tips for ...
Charity marching to success
Give Us Time, a small tri-service charity supporting forces families with much-needed respite breaks, is celebrating its best year yet, having helped more than 280 serving and veteran families reconnect and m...
Bra allowance
Did you know that eligible service personnel can claim up to £50 a year towards sports bras?
This can be claimed via JPA under My Expenses. It’s a miscellaneous expense and should be claimed under ‘medical, ...
Global Health Insurance cards change
AFF’s overseas team spotted a trend in forces personnel assigned overseas reporting difficulties fulfilling the UK residency rules when applying for their first Global Health Insurance Cards (GHIC), and renew...