The RAF Families Federation (RAFFF) has been playing an increasingly visible role in shaping national discussions on the future of support for Royal Air Force personnel and their families.
The organisation has given evidence on two occasions for the Armed Forces Bill Select Committee, ensuring that the distinctive experiences of RAF people are placed firmly on the record. Alongside its oral evidence, the Federation has also provided a detailed written submission on the proposed extension of the Armed Forces Covenant and Defence Housing matters.
In evidence to the Armed Forces Bill Select Committee, RAF FF Director Andrea Devlin joined representatives from the Naval and Army Families Federations to provide insight into how the proposed expansion of the Armed Forces Covenant could better reflect the realities of modern Service life. The sessions invited organisations that work closely with Service communities to advise MPs as they examine how an extended Covenant duty — now reaching across government and into areas such as employment, welfare, and taxation — should be delivered.
Andrea drew particular attention to the unique pressures of RAF life, including the high degree of mobility and the impact of frequent relocation on family stability, partner employment and educational continuity. Her evidence underscored a recurring theme in RAF FF's work: that personnel and families consistently display resilience in the face of challenges that are often under‑recognised, and that these experiences deserve meaningful consideration by policymakers.
On a separate day, Mark Hayhurst, one of the Federation's Accommodation Specialists, provided evidence to the Defence Select Committee as part of its scrutiny of Defence housing and the implications of the paused Modernised Accommodation Offer. Speaking alongside accommodation leads from the Naval and Army Families Federations, he highlighted how uncertainty around housing policy affects both family life and operational readiness.
Taken together, these contributions underline the RAF Families Federation's role as an informed, independent advocate for RAF personnel and families. Operating outside the chain of command but deeply embedded in the lived experience of the RAF community, the Federation continues to bring an unfiltered, evidence‑based perspective to senior decision‑makers across Defence and Government.
For more information about their work visit their website RAF Families Federation
