Homthe naval Families Federation’s Magazine eporfor Rn & RM Families now incorporating the Royal Marines association t Spring 2016 | www.nff.org.uk Focus on Scotland

inside Do you have a Survival tips •P• P2626 &2& 277M MyyN Navyavy –T– Thehe Offer •P• P6363 &7& 700 Win aSummer Getaway ‘Funninator’ for Parents in the French Alps of Trainees •P• P59-6159-61 Spousal Employment

|page 53 |pages 54 &55 AREAS ALL ’ IN 2015 torate ‘EXCELLENTInspec RATED Schools Independent

Inspire, Challenge &Lead

The RoyalHospital School is aleading co-educational independent school for 11 to 18 year olds,located in 200 acres of Suffolk countryside.Ithas athriving Combined Cadet Force, 65% of pupils boardfull time and more than 200 pupils haveaconnection to the armed services. Fees arediscounted for services families eligible OPEN MORNING for CEA and all RN and RM personnel, both SAT14MAY retired and serving, can apply for means-tested 2016 assistance with fees.

Formoreinformation contact Kate Evers,Registrar on 01473 326136 or [email protected] or visit www.royalhospitalschool.org | Contents news &views Introducing Yo ur Regional Liaison Te am ...... 6-7 interview page 32 Penny Mordaunt, Minister of State for the AF..... 8-9 Feature Focus on Scotland ...... 10-17 Covenant Employers Get Gold for Supporting the AF...... 22 navy Life

The Naval Families F My Navy –The Offer...... 26-27 Homeportederation’s Magazine for RN & RM Families now incorporating the Royal Marines Association FRonT CovER: Spring 2016 | www.nff.org.uk FREE China Fleet Club...... 28-29 Focus Our front cover shows HMS on Scotland Service Complaints Ombudsman ARTFUL,the third of the subsCRipTions Royal Navy’s new Astute Increased Powers...... 30 Class attack submarines. The Naval Families Federation relies on Our thanks go to Neil Smith Units and Establishments to distribute copies Royal Marines Association BA MSC MCIPR, Assistant to all families as quickly as possible. If you are Introducing the Royal Marines Charity ...... 40 Head of Submarine not in aap positionosition to obtain aac copyopy through Communications & inside the usual Naval Service channels, e-mail: Do you have a Surviv al tips •P• P2626 &2& 277M MyyN Navyavy –T– Thehe Offer ‘Funnina ••P P63 & 70 tor’ for Parents 63 &70 Win aSummer Getaway [email protected] with your postal address Engagement to FOSNI/ in the French Alps of Trainees Being aRM–It’s in our Family Genes...... 46-47 •P• P59-6159-61 Spousal Employment |page 53 ACNS(SM)/RASM, for his |pages 54 &55 to make sure you receive YOUR copy of HOMEPORT. Your Questions Answered.. 48-49 help in pulling together our feature on Scotland. Turn to pages 10-17. Credit: CPOA Your Life (Phot) Thomas McDonald. AF Families Strategy...... 52 If you want to be considered for our front cover,e-mail your photo to [email protected]. AParent’s Perspective ...... 54-55 Spousal Employment...... 59-61 pages 54 &55 Patron’s Lunch...... 62 Star Time for aRelationship MOT?...... 64-65 Prize Finance Page 63 New PaySystem...... 66-67

prizes ...... 70-71 contents | Spring 2016

Views expressed in HOMEPORT,unless otherwise Tel: 01408 633871 Fax: 01408 633876 stated, are those of the author alone and do not E-mail: [email protected] necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Naval No responsibility for the quality of goods or services Families Federation or of the Ministry of Defence. The Naval Families Federation’s Magazine for advertised in this magazine can be accepted by the HOMEPORT welcomes articles from readers. Royal Naval &Royal Marines families Publishers, Printers or by the Ministry of Defence. Contributions are included at the NFF Director’s Advertisements are accepted on the express condition HOMEPORT is distributed free by the Royal Navy and discretion. Anonymous contributions are not accepted. that the advertiser warrants that they in no way Royal Marines to Naval families throughout Information correct at time of press. contravene the provisions of the Trades Descriptions the world and is published quarterly by Act 1968 or any other prevailing legislation in the Method Publishing,adivision of Scottish Design and Typography: ©Method Publishing 2016 United Kingdom. Provincial Press Ltd. Editorial Matter and Illustrations: ©Crown The Publishers reserve the right to refuse acceptance Editorial Office: Editor: Sarah Woods Copyright 2016 unless otherwise stated. Articles of any advertisement, either before or after receipt of Naval Families Federation, Castaway House, are not to be reproduced without permission from copy,without stating areason. 311 Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth PO2 8RN the Editor. Tel: 023 9265 4374 Advertisement Office (UK) HOMEPORT Editorial Deadlines: E-mail: [email protected] Method Publishing,Sutherland Press House, Golspie, Summer edition: 8th April 2016. Website: www.nff.org.uk Sutherland, Scotland KW10 6RA Autumn edition: 26th June 2016. Spring 2016 | Homeport 03 News &Views | Hello, Editor’s Note howcan Ihelp you? Well with the firstedition of the revamped Homeport Are you looking for advice, been and gone Iamdelighted with the results and the support and assistance? Then feedback from readers. We still have some way to go these useful contact numbers and will be working on those over the coming months. may be able to help you: Unfortunately with the winter edition of Homeport we hit aproblem with the distribution and some addresses received the magazine twice or for afew families, more The NavalFamilies Federation: than twice! Ican only apologise. This is the firsttime 0239265 4374 we have experienced such aglitch and hopefully never Offering an independent voice to Royal Naval and Royal again! Thank you to all those families that advised Marines families. us of the problem. This was extremely useful for us to determine the problem and ensure we do not have a Anna Wright, Director repeat. Jane Williams, Deputy Director Mick Malone, Office &Enquiry Manager –[email protected] Thank you too for those of you that gave your opinion Ali Clough, Enquiries Coordinator via our annual online poll. With the addition of the Royal Sue Walters, Data &Administration Co-ordinator and PA to Marines Association members, this has given us food for Anna Wright thought for the future. The results of the poll will form an Frances McCreesh, Marketing &Communications Manager – article in the next edition. website and social media Sarah Woods, Editor of Homeport –Homeport magazine and Homeport is the magazine for the Naval Families, Distribution –[email protected] serving and their families; your feedback is so important Bridget Nicholson, Head of Strategic Review to me and helps me to continue to publish amagazine Jenny Ward, Regional Team Manager –Midlands & that you, the readers, want to read. Keep it coming. Central England Jenna Hargreaves, Regional Liaison Officer –Northern England If you know anyone who would like to receive Homeport, Mark Harris, Regional Liaison Officer –Scotland & e-mail me at [email protected] with the full postal Northern Ireland address and don’t forget to take the magazine home for Alexandra Aspinall, Regional Liaison Officer –Wales & your families. West of England Nicola Thompson, Regional Liaison Officer,South of England RNRM Welfare: 02392728777 Providing specialist welfare support to Service users and third party referrals. Sarah Woods |Editor,Homeport Carillionamey: 0800 7076000 [email protected] Enquiries for Service Family Accommodation, including maintenance. JSHaO: 01252787 574 The Joint Service Housing Advice Office (JSHAO) provides housing information and advice to Service personnel and their families. JCCC:01452519 951 The Joint Casualty and Compassionate Cell provides afocal point for casualty administration and notification and requests for compassionate travel (for those personnel serving overseas) in respect of members of the British Armed Forces. veterans uK: Freephone (uK only): 0808 1914 221 188 or Telephone (overseas): +44 1253866 043 Veterans UK administers the Armed FFoorcesrces PPeensionnsion Schemes and compensation payments for those injured or bereaved through service. ServiceeC Complaints CCoommismmissioner: 0022007 787773 3450 The Service Complaints Commissioner for the Armed Forces helps ensure Servicemen and Servicewomen are treated fairly throughout their Service life. CEaS: 01980 618244 – The Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS) provides expert and impartial advice about the education of Service children.

04 Homeport |Spring 2016 | News & Views Your Voice, Heard Message from Anna Wright, Director NFF

When our 3-year old grabbed the chino-ed legs of some random bloke in a café in Port Solent, near Portsmouth, and yelled, ‘My Daddy!’ I really didn’t know where to put myself. His wife looked rather hostile and he looked decidedly uncomfortable. I quickly hustled my son out whilst trying to explain that his Daddy had been away at sea for Another win for our community is the decision by the banks five months and that he wore the same trousers (they were to allow Armed Forces personnel posted overseas to rent fashionable then!). I’m sure that many of us can recount similar amusing tales (and I’d love to hear them if you have out their homes without facing higher mortgage costs or a minute). having to change their mortgage. I had the privilege of attending a meeting at No.10 when this and other Armed Our lifestyle as Naval families involves frequent periods Forces Covenant issues, including accommodation and of time spent apart. And it was during our first long local Government support were discussed (see page 24). separation that I began to wonder whether, when we met up for a romantic holiday during his ship’s mid deployment Finally I’d like to share with you a great find that you may ‘stand-off in Penang, the magic would still be there. I had be unaware of and which is hugely beneficial for Naval been busily getting on with work and had switched off my families. If, like my family, you haven’t ventured to the emotions to some extent, probably a familiar strategy to China Fleet Country Club in the West Country for many others who have been in the same situation. The time apart years then you are in for an absolute treat. Think David can work for or against you. Sometimes it can make for a Lloyd Sports Club crossed with a 5* country spa and you’re bumpy ride. getting there. Several millions of pounds have been spent And it is for this reason that I am so delighted that, in to upgrade the club to include state of the art spinning response to your feedback to us, the Royal Navy Royal equipment and spa facilities. And the very best part is the Marines Charity has offered to fund free sessions for clever business model which means that it is incredible Naval families with RELATE (turn to pages 64 & 65 for more value for money for the whole Naval community, including information). I very much hope that families will make the Veterans and Reservists (see pages 28 & 29). Enjoy! most of the offer for a ‘MOT’ to protect their relationships, so that this funding support continues. visit

Following recent complaints regarding Service Family Accommodation, Office Manager Mick Malone visited the CarillionAmey Helpdesk in Liverpool. Here’s his account of the visit. During the visit CarillionAmey (CA) Performance during the summer Director Luke Smith updated me about the training in order to try programmes that have been developed for all operatives and reduce the working on the housing contract and how they will number of issues be overcoming some of the supply chain issues they next winter. have suffered from over the last few months, in certain Accommodation Officers are having their tablets upgraded locations. with the aim of reducing the amount of paperwork They have now approved Saturday working for 50 involved at move-in appointments and allowing them to engineers to work on the back log of outstanding defects work more efficiently. After the meeting I spent the rest nationally. CA have also provided new tablets for the of the morning meeting members of the call centre staff engineers to log progress reports and request parts who I deal with on a regular basis and I spent some time required for specific defect rectification, these are being listening in on calls from customers reporting issues. rolled out now nationally. Next door to the main call centre was the area where they All Accommodation Officers on each Married Quarter estate have been given quality damp meters to make an are re-locating the Liberty Gas scheduling team. This is instant evaluation on damp and mould issues, and there currently augmented by CA staff until all the Liberty Gas are other plans afoot to provide a more comprehensive scheduling team are fully trained and in place. service for damp and mould. They are also having Damp What was really obvious from my meetings with all was the and Mould training for all the Accommodation Officers commitment to improve the level of service they provide.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 05 News &Views | Introducing your Regional Liaison

by Jenny Ward, Team Regional te am Manager

REGIONAL LIAISON Team profiles TEAM AREAS OF Ihave enjoyed working within the military environment RESPONSIBILITY for over 25 years and Iamdelighted to have been part of this huge shift in focus, to understand better and support the families of the Armed Forces. This has been really rewarding,and Iamcontinually energised by the desire to Jenny Ward strive for better,and to help get policies updated or changed Regional Team if they create adisadvantage for our community.Since Manager/Regional joining the NFF Ihave clocked up some 30,000 business miles whilst travelling around the UK attending meetings Liaison Officer – with service providers, families and decision makers, all with Central England one aim; to keep on supporting the Naval family.Aswell E-mail: as being the Team Manager,Iamalso the Regional Liaison [email protected] Officer (RLO) for Central England and Iamkeen to ensure or telephone: that the Naval Service families who live and work in this 07436 102 824 beautiful part of the country are well represented. Alexandra aspinall Jenna Hargreaves Regional Liaison Officer – Regional Liaison Officer –Northern Wales &West of England England E-mail: alexandra.aspinall@nff. E-mail: [email protected] or org.uk or telephne: 07884 887 037 telephone: 07884 887 036 Ihave been with my husband for eight As IIw writerite this, my other half has just years, who was already aserving submariner when we met; yes Ifell for the ‘Sailor with the Navy Blue returned from an almost seven- Eyes’! We both come from Southampton but when month deployment, although there we realised that this relationship would blossom into is ara riskisk that by the time this issue ‘wedding bells’ Irelocated to Plymouth, rebuilding of Homeport is printed ImI mightight be life in anew place with no family and initially friends contacting the Navy and requesting around me. Consequently,the chance to be able to raise awareness of the daily life of the Naval Service they send him on another one! Only community and the challenges we face was what joking. initially caught my interest with this role. Forthose of us in the Northern Having worked in Higher Education focusing on region, the Naval footprint is alittle immigration requirements for international students, more hidden than it is perhaps in the leap into the new job alongside Naval families is being both areally enjoyable learning curve and other areas, but this does not mean that the engaging.Wehave aslightly different family ‘make- support is not needed; we just have to dig a up’asweare kept very busy by two very lovely and little deeper to find it. Itake great pride in being very bouncy four-legged friends! When the boat sails able to give avoice to families, and indeed Iknow that our other ‘boys’ will step in and keep me serving personnel themselves, to ensure that we company and busy! Just got to teach them how to load the washing machine! all pull together as acommunity and support each other.Iwould encourage people to Editor’s Note: As we went to press Alex’s husband contact me-Iamproud to be able to provide a received notification of his new assignment, which unfortunately means that Alex will be leaving the NFF. We platform for those of us in the North. wish her and her husband all the best for the future.

06 Homeport |Spring 2016 | News &Views

In our last edition we talked about our plans you to talk to us. We want to know your opinions about for aRegional liaison Team and Iamnow Service life. What are the good bits, and the not so delighted to be able to introduce our new good bits? If you could change one thing,what would Regional liaison Officers (RlOs) to you. it be? Are there any local issues that we need to know about? Our job is to represent you, whether this to the Naval Command team, central Government, local authorities, the charitable sector or private industry.Wewant to ensure that they all have abetter understanding of the What are the good challenges you face as aService family,sothat they can hopefully make changes and improve life for you bits, and the not so all. To do that though, we need evidence and we need good bits?

After 28 years of marriage, five children and 26 years in the Royal Navy (Submarines) you would think Ihad agood idea of the issues that the modern service family have to face? Imet Deb just before joining up and we married two years later.Early on we moved around between Rosyth, Portsmouth and Faslane, but as the children grew up we decided to settle in the West of Scotland. Apart from the beautiful scenery and huge array of quality whiskey and gin we have also benefitted from zero university/college fees and free prescriptions (that’s abonus). After four years with Babcock Flagship in the base Iwas delighted Mark Harris to get the opportunity to give something back to the community that supported me for so long.Asthe brand new Regional Liaison Officer Regional Liaison for Scotland and Northern Ireland Iamworking hard to understand Officer – the issues specific to my region and the obstacles families face when Scotland and making the transition from other areas. There is alot of help out there Northern Ireland and Iwant to make sure that information is passed to our Service E-mail: Families, wherever they live. [email protected] So to answer the question, ‘Do Ihave agood idea of the issues the or telephone: modern Service Family faces?’ the answer is “aye”, and Iamstill 07469 660 696 learning,soplease get in touch and let me know how we can help.

Nicola Thompson Regional Liaison Officer –Southern England E-mail: [email protected] or telephone: 07920 650 563

Ayoung family,husband in the Royal Navy,running ahome and working… just some of the basics that lots of us can put down as astarter for 10. My decision to pick up the baton and jump into working with the Naval Families Federation is one that Isee in a very positive light. Knowing how challenging separation and life’s comings and goings can be, the opportunity to make apositive difference is one that Ireally enjoy.Like most families within the Naval Service we have settled into our own home and have roots and asupport network. The motivation to talk to other families about their experiences, safe in the knowledge that the feedback goes directly to the decision makers, is key for me. Iamdelighted to have contributed feedback that has already changed policy for our hardworking and resourceful families; the dinner time discussions with my husband have taken on acompletely different shape, there have even been afew occasions when Ihave researched atopic and am ahead of him!

Spring 2016 | Homeport 07 Interview |

You’d imagine having been brought up in Portsmouth, that I’d have asoftspot for our Senior Service. And you’d be right. It was only during the Falklands conflict, when Iwas still at ‘middle’ school in Portsmouth, that Ireally began to appreciate the Royal Navy’s spirit of service. Witnessing those brave sailors and marines doing everything in their power to uphold British sovereignty and defend the rule of law,thousands of miles from home, was arevelation. Now,many years later,asMinister for the Armed Forces, I’ve seen how Portsmouth’s endeavour is reflected over in Devonport, on the Clyde and through all our training establishments and air stations across the country.And their efforts continue to deliver above and beyond for our nation – protecting our trade, defending our shores and delivering our ultimate deterrent. In fact, since Ijoined MOD last May, the Royal Navy has led NATO’s largest maritime exercise for two decades. We’ve seen HMS DEFENDER supporting French and American task groups in the Gulf. HMS DUNCAN has become the first ship in the Black Sea for seven years and HMS PROTECTOR, the first in the Ross Sea for 80 years. Meanwhile, HMS BULWARK,HMS RICHMOND and HMS ENTERPRISE have been pulling out all the stops in the Mediterranean to save the lives of migrants. It’s particularly gratifying as a proud ‘Portsmouthian’todiscover scions of our fair city in the far flungfields of the world from Bahrain to Bermuda. 2016 promises to match last year in

08 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Interview intensity.Our Strategic Defence and families access to help through asingle Meanwhile, the decision in January by Security Review (SDSR) underlined portal. Those getting in touch will find banks and credit reference agencies that the dangers we’re facing are only immediate benefit from one-to-one to make better use of ‘shadow’British growing in complexity,diversity and scale. support from experienced Social and Forces Post Office data –will allow you to Even though our SDSR has made sure Military Caseworkers.(You can find access unsecured credit and mortgages our sailors are going to have the kit they out more by visiting www. both overseas and at home. need –the carriers, the F35B jets, the royalnavy.mod.uk/welfare/ Type 26 frigates, the helicopters and the find-help or contacting support ships –Iknow they won’t succeed 44(0)2392 728777.) without the Royal Navy’s backbone –our Iknow another area great Naval families. of concern has been Ifully understand the sense of anxiety accommodation, it and uncertainty loved ones feel when certainly has been for amember of their family is away my constituents, and for an extended period. Forthose as aConstituency MP families waiting for the return of RFA Ihave been working Argus, away for 172 days last year, with my colleague Mark or HMS DUNCAN,recently returned Lancaster,Minister for after nine months at sea, that sense of Defence Personnel and isolation must have been magnified a Veterans, to ensure hundredfold. CarillionAmey deliver for our Service families. Of course, Naval families don’t dwell on More broadly we’re such difficulties. They simply get on with reviewing the Future life. But Iknow from talking to families in Accommodation my own constituency and seeing some an interview with... Penny Mordaunt Minister of State for the armed Forces and Royal navy Reservist

Model –the entire way we provide of the conversations on the Royal Navy We know there’s more to do. Back in accommodation –taking account of Forum, even they can sometimes do with January we launched our firstFamilies different family arrangements and ahelping hand –whether it’s finding Strategy.Itaims to improve our family more modern living.Wewant to give accessible and affordable childcare, you more choice about where, how offer: to give Service families, partners getting their children into school, locating and with whom you live. We want to and children the support they need in adentist or fixing aboiler. support you with greater use of private times of trouble and help them make The Naval Families Federation already market accommodation and with an the best decisions for their loved ones. provides sterling service, with avast entitlement based on need, not rank, age Running through that strategy is agolden array of guidance on awhole host of or marriage. And we would like to be thread of fairness, choice, self-sufficiency issues, and I’m very proud they are in my able to provide assistance for you to rent and resilience. And I’m keen to hear constituency.But Government too has from the private market, or buy ahome, from Naval families about how we turn aduty to serve those who serve us. So building on the support that we already these lofty aspirations into reality. we’re upping our game. offer through Forces Help to Buy.We In the year when we commemorate the In the past, one of the problems our plan to tell you more about this over the centenary of the Battle of Jutland and all people faced was access to services. coming year as work progresses. our Naval personnel and their families There are so many different strands We also recognise that society as awhole have sacrificed for this nation, it’s high of support on offer: welfare, personal, has aduty of care to its Armed Forces. So family and community support, we’re using the Armed Forces Covenant time we renewed our commitment to you. accommodation and Trauma Risk to galvanise the public and private sector. As someone whose ties to the Royal Navy Management. The trouble was they As aresult, the Royal Navy will now go way back, Ifeel these responsibilities weren’t linked up. That’s why we’ve benefit from the decision of major phone keenly.Iamproud to be one of you, now brought those resources together companies to freeze mobile contracts and proud to serve you as one of your under one roof.It’sallowed us to give when personnel are posted overseas. Ministers.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 09 Feature | Welcome to Foreword from Rear admiral John Weale

Flag officer Scotland and northernIreland, assistant chief of the naval Staff (Submarines), Rear admiral Submarines

Scotland will be home to the entire UK Submarine Service by and 2019. 2020. As we move forward, all So, the Submarine Service has joined forces with the Naval submarine operations Families Federation to provide you with the facts about the will be conducted from Scottish quality of life, its economy and employment prospects, Scotland: submariners, and their families, will have the education and health provision in this special feature in certainty of knowing that their careers will be centred in and Homeport. around HMNB CLYDE,wherever they choose to live. As the head of the UK Submarine Service, Iunderstand this –Iwork Perhaps too, it will help dispel some of the myths and in Scotland; my family home is in Cornwall. inaccurate ‘dits’ about life up here! But the move to operations and training only from Scotland, HM NAVALBASE CLYDE has always been home to the UK with submarines built in Cumbria and refitted in Devonport, is strategic nuclear deterrent and it is the UK Government’s clear the right one that rebalances the UK’s support to its Submarine intention to base the four successor submarines here too. Service in the most efficient and coordinated way. The firstthree of the seven world-beating Astute class Youare assured the warmest welcome when you arrive in submarines are already operating from HMNB CLYDE,with Scotland: you will join acommunity of 4,500 serving personnel the final four boats joining their sister ships over the next and their families, as well as Veterans and Reservists, that the decade. Scottish Government places the highest priority on supporting To ensure that we maintain both engineering workloads and through its practical delivery of the UK Armed Forces essential skills on the Clyde during this period, the last two Covenant. remaining Trafalgar Class submarines will move north in 2017 Fàilte gu Alba –welcome to Scotland!

Scotland will be home to the entire uK submarine service by 2020.

10 Homeport |Spring 2016 Feature to scotland |

The base Executive officer,Commander Jim Hayle, HM nAvALbAsE CLYDE adds;

“HM NAVALBASE CLYDE,the home of the Submarine Centre of Specialisation, exists not only to support its submarines, mine countermeasures vessels and Royal Marines, but additionally their families too. This is why we are conducting amajor estates rationalisation of the establishment to make it easier for Service families to make use of the Base’s many recreational and leisure facilities. “Our plan is to make access as easy as possible for Service families to enter the Neptune village of accommodation, shops, swimming pool, gym, fitness suites, sauna, bars, bowling alley and even our very own dry ski slope!” Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde is one of the largest employment site in Scotland, with around 6,800 military and civilian jobs. The future is very positive: the number of personnel at HMNB CLYDE is set to increase to an estimated 8,200 by 2022 as the Base becomes home to all RN submarines and the UK’s Submarine Centre of Specialisation.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 11 Feature |

There is lots to see and do, including cricket, rugby,tennis, golf and squash clubs, swimming baths, yachting and a HMNB CLYDE is located five miles from the town of cinema. Helensburgh in Argyll and Bute –one of Scotland’s 32 local council areas that covers avast area on the west coast of Ashort drive north-west opens up more options. The Scotland, with 2,700 miles of coastline, 23 inhabited islands often small communities dotted along the Argyll and Bute and six towns. coastline, and on the islands off the coast, have arich and Physically,the area is stunning.Its population of over 86,000 vibrant culture with music festivals, sporting events, food live mainly in the six bustling local towns but also in friendly and drink fairs, galas and games running in the area rural communities and on some of the best known of Scotland’s throughout the year. islands, each with its own unique culture and characteristics. And there is acastle or two to see. Why not visit Inveraray Castle –the stunning stately home of the Duke of Argyll and used Effectively HMNB CLYDE’S home port, Helensburgh was as alocation on BBC’s Downtown Abbey? Or take atrip founded at the end of the 18th Century with many of the to the village of Tarbert, Loch Fyne that offers some of the homes developed by wealthy Victorian merchants. finest seafood in the world. The town boasts along promenade, tree-lined streets and From there it is ashort ferry journey to many of the islands dozens of small, local businesses catering to the needs of dotted of the coast where you can sample delicious local residents and visitors alike. food and visit some of the world-renowned distilleries. Street names and monuments reflect the pride Helensburgh takes in two of its most famous sons –Henry Bell, originator of the steamship, and John Logie Baird, inventor of the television. Argyll and Bute Council is astrong supporter of the Ministry of Defence’s firm base initiative and is committed to building Service ncil Education strong relationships with members of the UK’s Armed land ButeCou Argyl Argyll and Bute Council Serviceorces and Bute Council Forces, visit their dedicated website for Service uncil EduArcametion dF Argyloml&Buingte Coour Welc in the personnel and their families www.argyll-bute. el andVeterans Welcoming our Serving Personn for Families of informainformation for serving personnelour and veterans Information tion for serving ArmeArmeddF Forces gov.uk/armed-forces. ea. personn orces andLomond Ar el and veteran Helensburgh s In recognition that as many as 50% of school pupils in the Helensburgh area are from Service families, ildren Supporting ch the Scottish Government has provided nearly people and young StrengtStrengthening ties £100,000 to support their specific needs directly. Forces hening ties from Armed with the armed The Council has recruited qualified teacher, Davina es. forces and veterans famili and veteran Blair, to work exclusively full-time in support of local in our communities.s communities. Service children. ng awarm Offeri OfferinOfferinggaw a warm eto arm welcom welcome and superb quality of Helensburgh quality life for those yetof to nd. for those yet the council has recruited and Lomo arrive. to qualifiedteacher,davina Blair, to work exclusively full-time in armed-forces www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/ supportoflocal service children.

www.argyll-bute.gov .uk/armed-forces

12 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Feature

All children are provided with free nursery education for two Living and working in Argyll and Bute offers easy access to the years prior to beginning school. West of Scotland, the country’s most populous region, and Schools in the Helensburgh and Lomond area are benefiting home to approximately two million people. from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund, with additional support Scotland’s largest city,Glasgow,iswithin easy reach with arich for teaching staff,family liaison and training opportunities. history,stunning architecture and excellent shopping. Over three financial years, local schools have received over £230,000 in extra support. Scottish university students undertake degree-level education Royal Navy sailors, their families and civilian colleagues can that usually requires four years to complete. Students only gain experience all the magic of the big screen with the Faslane their qualification at the end of this period. Cinema Society.The Faslane Cinema Society provides regular Most UK and EU residents who are full-time first degree students films to MOD staff and their families at nearby HMNB CLYDE. should be eligible to have their tuition fees paid by the Scottish Those joining can subscribe to enjoy up to 48 films ayear for Government. To be sure of qualifying,students must have been what works out at around just 75 pence per film! resident in United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Oh and did we mention the music, festivals, castles, lakes, walks Man for the three years immediately before the first day of the and even more castles you can visit …? first academic year of the course and ordinarily be resident in Scotland.

House prices in Scotland vary according to what city or town you live and in what area. Property prices are £200,000 on average, compared to the UK average of £274,000.The average monthly private rent in Scotland is £537.

When you live in Scotland, families have access to arange of healthcare services on the National Health Service (NHS) - many of them free, including: •Medical advice from adoctor -General Practitioner (GP) and most other GP services •Medical treatment in ahospital, both emergency and non- emergency •Free prescription medicines •Free eye tests. Youmay need to pay for: •Some GP services -for example, travel vaccinations •Dental treatment •Optical treatment –although eye tests are free.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 13 THERE’SNOTHING HOLDINGYOU BACK NEWKIT FORTHE NEWSEASON

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STORES NATIONWIDE |COTSWOLDOUTDOOR.COM

*Selectedlines only.Not to be usedinconjunction with anyother offerordiscount. Only valid on production 014 of military identificationiHomeportnstore or useo|Sfdispringcountcod2016eonline. Offerexpires 30.06.16. | News| &VFeatiewsure The Community in Scotland - The Corner House, Rhu

One of our wonderful submariner’s wives gives us the skinny on as one wife went into life in Faslane. labour whilst her The Corner House is one of anumber of community houses husband was at sea, in the Faslane area (the others are located at Colgrain and another wife took her Churchill). Corner House is used primarily by the married to hospital, and aat thirdhird patches on the north side of Helensburgh, but is open to all, looked after the older including those living off the patch. children at home. There has always been astrong sense of camaraderie here The Corner House is often and as more families have started to move to the area, the the first point of contact Corner House has been revived with support from the RNRMC. for families who have Run by volunteers from within the community on arota, recently moved up here – there are regular events during the week, including ‘Brew@ it is aplace to meet your Rhu’and ‘Stitch and Blether’, plus afortnightly Saturday neighbours and find out meet-up, aptly named ‘Saturday Sanity’and amonthly information about the book club. Anyone from the community can suggest local area, as well as and organise one-offs, such as curry nights, quiz nights, providing much-needed children’s parties, BBQs, dress sales, charity fundraising support with partners events and so on. There is awell-equipped playroom for away for months at a the children, aclimbing frame and swings outside, as well time. as agazebo for protection against the inclement Scottish weather! This is afriendly,warm-hearted and hardy community that pulls together to support each other during difficult periods as well as Husbands and partners (and it is predominantly the men who celebrating the good times. are serving) are away as often as not –even if not actually deployed they are away on courses, doing maintenance, work- up and sea trials. As one submarine leaves and aset of families the community say their goodbyes, others will be readying themselves for a homecoming.The give and take is felt very keenly –ifitisn’t your turn this time, it will be yours next! becomes the Most families who move up here don’t have relatives nearby, so the community becomes the extended family. Recently, extended family

Spring 2016 | Homeport 15 Feature |

Moving to Scotland? aFamily’s Experience

We were contacted by afamily who wanted to share their positive experience of moving to Scotland, especially during avery difficult time. Here’s their story.

In December 2011 we, as afamily,took the decision after was admitted. But the support we received was nothing short living apart for 10 years while my husband, David, was of amazing.Wequickly realised that our extended family were commuting from Stoke-on-Trent to Faslane every weekend, to right on our doorstep. The Naval families around us couldn’t make the move to Helensburgh, Scotland. All I’d heard about do enough to help with childcare, walking our dog,whatever Faslane was that it rains alot, but what we found that there is was needed. Everyone was just fantastic and we were very much, much more to the area to be explored. aware of the support on offer from the Royal Navy Royal The move itself,although Iwas very apprehensive, turned Marine’s Welfare Teams and Family Support Workers, if we out to be avery positive experience. The primary school our required it. Thankfully the surgery went as well as could be daughters, Ellie and Madeline, enrolled in was very welcoming expected and would be monitored by regular MRIs to check for and was immediately helpful in investigating our youngest re-growths. daughter’s additional support needs. Iwas introduced to a The next 18 months were aworrying time, trying to stay positive variety of Naval Community groups and FAFDU (Friends and about the MRI scans and trying to concentrate on addressing Family of Deployed Units) who hold alarge variety of trips and Madeline’s additional support needs. We had many multi- events, and because of this agency meetings at school Ifound it easy to make new and found the support on offer friends within this very warm the supportwe in Scotland overwhelming at and close knit community. times. There were suddenly Within ayear our whole received was nothing upwards of 16 different world got turned upside individuals involved in her down. Madeline, who was shortofamazing care, most of which involved 5years old at the time, after regular appointments, including weeks of pain, was admitted neurosurgeons, genetics, to Yorkhill Sick Children’s Hospital in Glasgow and diagnosed ophthalmologists, physiotherapy,RNRMW and CAMHS.Trying with aspinal cord tumour and agenetic condition called to balance her medical needs against her education is a Neurofibromatosis Type 1. Madeline needed an extremely long constant struggle. and risky surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, We then got the news we were all dreading.The tumour but unfortunately afull resection was never on the cards. had started to regrow.The initial decision to rely on surgery We were living away from our extended family and Iwas very alone was risky and didn’t pay off.Sothis time, Madeline worried how we were going to cope. David arranged to have would undergo another surgery followed by 18 months of time off work to attend the hospital and look after our eldest chemotherapy.This news was heart breaking for us, having to daughter while Istayed with Madeline for the three weeks she put our daughter through such adifficult course of treatment.

16 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Feature Fortunately,D, Davidavid was regular appointments, as required. due to move to aam muchuch Without the amazing local support, managing this treatment more stable job role would have been close to impossible. Over the last three and would be around years we have had direct support from RNRMW and Family for the majority of it. Support Teams, other Naval Families, FAFDU,Braeholm Her treatment meant Aggie Weston’s, The Carer’s Trust, Cornerstone, Neptune aha hugeuge loss of control Special Needs Support Group and various extremely generous for our family as charities. We have found ourselves in the position that we were chemotherapy just extremely lucky to be living in such acaring and community happens to you. spirited area when we needed it the most. Being amember of Our lives belonged West of Scotland Military Wives Choir has been aparticular to the Schiehallion source of helpful distraction for me. Ward; which has Along with the support on offer,wehave found that living become asa secondecond in Helensburgh offers so much to our family.The facilities at home. The treatment HMNB CLYDE are excellent, Helensburgh is re-generating, aside, our biggest offering new and exciting opportunities and we have easy issue has been ad access to Glasgow,Edinburgh and wonderful Scottish hoc childcare for countryside with Loch Lomond only 15 minutes away. our eldest daughter. Having no family Making the decision to come to Helensburgh was definitely the close by,an right move. emergency trip or stay in hospital can often mean relying on other Naval Editor’s Note: One way that the Naval Families from families to help out and, fantastically,someone has always HMNB CLYDE supported the Wynn family was that instead been there to help. of buying Christmas cards last year they bought toys for the Over the course of her treatment, Madeline has been sick due children on Schiehallion Ward at The Royal Hospital for to her chemotherapy,lost her hair,needed numerous stays in Children in Glasgow.The extremely brave children got to hospital for infections, had over 25 blood transfusions, three choose atoy from the ‘Fairy Box’ after upsetting procedures. surgeries, blood level checks at least once aweek, hearing and This really did help to put smiles back onto faces and make kidney function test every three months and all of her other their long and hard treatment more bearable.

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Spring 2016 | Homeport 17 AssociationofWrens

“Weofferfriendship andsupport via branches,informal groups, The Wren magazine,online networksand local andnationalevents”

The Association wasfounded in subscriptions,donations andlegacies. 1920 by WWI Wrens(Women’s The Association of Wrens(Womenof RoyalNaval Service) whowished to theRoyal NavalServices) wherea keep thespiritofthe service alive. centenarian ex-Wrenhas acommon Today, membership is open to all bond with thewomen whoserve former Wrens, Reserves, andformer todayonHMships andatRoyal andserving RoyalNavyfemale Navalshore establishments, at home personnel. andoverseas. As aregisteredcharity (No257040), 2017 will be the 100th anniversary we offer membersfriendship and of the formation of the Women’s supportvia anetwork of branches, RoyalNaval Serviceand plansare informalgroups, The Wren magazine, nowbeing madetocelebrate this onlinenetworks, wonderfulmilestone. andlocal and national events. Contactdetails: T02392 725141 Ourorganisation E: [email protected] is funded entirely www.wrens.org.uk by member Facebook: Association of Wrens AT EASE Protecting what matters

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18 Homeport |Spring 2016 Here’sanother benefit of being amember of the armed forces

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1. Applies to Family Roadside &Relay cover in first year only.Other levels of cover areavailable and varying discounts apply.Offer only available to members of the armed forces by calling the number given, quoting the stated reference and paying annually by direct debit under arecurring transaction arrangement. Enrolment offer available to new Members for their first 12 months of Membership only. Offer not available in conjunction with any other offer/discount or on any other AA product/service. Details correct at time of issue. 2. Renewal offer available to members of the armed forces who areexisting AA Members, or who join under the enrolment offer, and will be available at each renewal date until they cease to be amembers of the armed forces or the withdrawal of this scheme. 3. Mintel –UKVehicle recovery report, September 2014. Automobile Association Insurance Services Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: Fanum House, Basing View,Basingstoke RG21 4EA. Registered in England &Wales, number 2414212.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 19 Covenant | so What is the Effect armed Forces covenant?

as the covenant falls into its fifth year,what are its latest achievements? the annual reportdetails the highlights of 2015, with everylocal authority in Great Britain and nearly 800 businesses now signed up to the covenant. Amongst the Armed Forces Covenant 2015 achievements:

EDUCATION CHILDREN’S • Children of personnel can now get school places before moving into an area, following an amendment to the Schools Admission Code remium • £21 million of Service Pupil P payments made to support the pastoral needs of ver 69,000 Service pupils in state schools o • 24,500 children from Service families have benefitted from 154 grants for Education COMMERCIAL DISADVA NTAGE Support Funding to help schools mitigate and manage issues caused by Service families • Agreement has been secured with four major moving as a result of deployment. mobile phone providers to allow Service personnel and their families to put their contracts on hold when they are posted overseas •Work is underway with the Royal Mail to promote the use of the British Forces Post Office Services (BFPO) address system to the financial service sector so that Service personnel and their families can access the products and services when overseas •And there is anew ambition to ensure Service personnel are not penalised by insuranceinsurance premiums when posted overseas.

FA MILYHEALTHCARE • The Armed Forces Covenant is now at the centre of the NHS constitution, an important step for the delivery of local health care. Now 81% of Service personnel report good access to medical care and 98% of Armed Forces families have good access to GPs • £2 million grant awarded to create aNHS Specialist Rehabilitation Unit.

20 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Covenant Effect of the covenant?

THE OVERSEAS OFFER The offer has been enhanced for Service families overseas by reducing Service accommodation charges by approximately 20% and waiving their contributions in lieu of council tax to MOD from April 2016. This measure has been implemented as apart of awider package to enhance the offer for personnel and their families serving overseas; on average overseas SFAoccupants will benefit by over £2,000 per annum. The waiver of council tax contributions will also apply to occupants of Single Living Accommodation (SLA) based overseas.

SPOUSALEMPLOYMENT • Spouses returning from overseas can now immediately claim Jobseeker’s Allowance, as they have been made exempt from the need to be aUKresident for three months in order to claim. This was as aresult of families feedback • More than 400 spouses of Armed Forces personnel now to be offered £1,000 grants for training and education.

to read the full report, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/armed-forces-covenant-annualreport-2015.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 21 Covenant | Employers get gold forsupporting the armed Forces

The Defence Secretaryhas recognised •Gloucestershire NHS Hospital Trust: employers who have made an outstanding Online presence supporting Reservists in commitment to support the Armed Forces, their ‘Work for Us’ section of their by presenting gold awards to the winners website, advocating the benefits of joining of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer the Reserves and providing ahost of links Recognition Scheme (ERS). to make joining as easy as it can be Businesses who hold ERS gold awards •Jaguar Land Rover: Encourages their proactively advocate and supportthe supply chain to recruit Service leavers, armed Forces community,both internally recommending candidates to their to employees and externally to the wider suppliers community.they have introduced policies to encourage the recruitment of armed Forces •JPMorgan: Runs amarket-leading personnel, spouses and veterans, and enable Ex-Military Internship Programme to Reservists to fulfil their annual training and help Service leavers of all ranks transition mobilisation. into successful careers in the private sector this year the ERS Gold awards focused on •National Express: Gives generous commitments to employ Reservists, Veterans discounts for Reservists, Service personnel and Forces family members. the winners and their families; offers aguaranteed job included: interview to those leaving with aPCV •Atkins: Launch of a‘Partnering with driving licence; offers their Reservists the Armed Forces’ programme that additional paid annual leave for training encompasses improved HR support for •PricewaterhouseCoopers: created a Reservists and ex-Service personnel, and ‘Military Network’that provides invaluable recruitment of Service leavers guidance to those transitioning from the •The AA: Work with ‘The Poppy Factory’ Service and the Veterans and Reservists charity to help place injured personnel employed throughout the firm into work •Serco: Offer 12 extra days’ paid leave for •Babcock: Offers aguaranteed interview Reserving training for any Reservist who applies for apost via the Babcock International website. •Tesco: key partner of the Career Offers paid time off for Reservist training Transition Partnership, enabling Forces leavers to see if retail is for them. •Fujitsu: To attract Service leavers, they have set up arecruitment process there are nearly 800 business signatories of that recognises Armed Forces skills and the armed Forces covenant who have made qualifications. They work closely with CTP individual pledges. this could cover,for (Career Transition Partnership), providing example, employment supportand adapting access to vacancies through their internal their products and services to suit the needs recruitment system of Service life better.For more information, •Gateshead Council: Offers two weeks’ please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/ additional paid holiday for Reservist collections/armed-forces-covenant- training supporting-information.

22 Homeport |Spring 2016 Smart kids

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Formedin1739 the RoyalNavyOfficers’ Charity has for275 yearsprovided support and financial assistance to serving and retired RoyalNavyand RoyalMarine Officersand their Reserves, spouses and dependants at homeand overseas. To daythe Charity continues to make areal difference to the quality of lifefor our beneficiaries through the breadth of our grant making. In ordertocontinue this support,which includes assistance to those on lowincomes, care homefees, scholarshipsand re-training to gain employment, the Charity needsyour generous help in the form of donations and legacies. Please help us to help them.

Call 020 7402 5231, 275 years e-mail [email protected] or write to 70 Porchester Terrace, London W2 3TP. Visit www.arno.org.uk for further details Proud supporter of the RNOC

Spring 2016 | Homeport 23 Covenant | better Deals on Mortgages for armed Forces Families Posted overseas

the nFF is delighted that evidence presented to Government from families to the Federations has resulted in changes to mortgage deals for armed Forces personnel posted overseas.

assignment abroad you will be able to rent out your home without facing higher mortgage costs or having to change your mortgage. Currently,members of the Armed Forces who rent out their homes during deployment have to change their residential mortgage to abuy-to-let mortgage, often incurring new product charges and an increased rate of interest. Under the new agreement they will no longer have to change their mortgage product, saving them time and money. Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Santander UK, Royal Bank of Scotland and Nationwide - the UK’s biggest building society –will all offer the support. mortgages and bank accounts. The Armed Forces can also lose out on benefits Other measures being discussed and cost savings, like no claims are aimed at meeting the bonuses and discounts and this unique pressures of Service is being discussed with the personnel and their insurance industry. families, whose jobs require them to relocate and move more often than in civilian life. Editor’s Note: Time spent serving their The latest updates are country from UK military announced on the NFF bases abroad can affect website and social the Forces community’s media sites as well as credit history,and our monthly newsletter. cause difficulties when To sign up for our free applying for products newsletter,e-mail: that civilians take for [email protected]. granted, for example

24 Homeport |Spring 2016 TheUK’sOnlyArmed Forces MotorFinance Broker

At MK CarFinance,weunderstandthe Lowest Rate Guarantee issues ArmedForcespersonnelhave obtainingcredit. Beingaspecialistmilitary Lowest PriceGuarantee financebroker, we deal with anumber of lenderswho aresympatheticand understand theuniquecircumstances 5Branches of militarypersonnel. With barracksor navaladdresses, overseas postings,and moving around often, many of youfind Over 3000 Cars Available it hard to fitthe usualcreditscoring systemsfor motorfinance.That, coupled with thefactthatsomelenders won’t AllCreditHistories Considered even consider membersofthe Armed Forces,meansapplications areoften unnecessarily declined. What we do is different.SpecialisinginArmed Forces carfinance,weofferbothlowestrateand lowest priceguarantees on allour vehicles and finance-more details of whichare availableatwww.mkcarfinance.co.uk.Whether youhavegood credit or have hadcreditissues in thepast, with 5 branches,and over3000 cars availableatany time,wehavesomething foreveryone.Weevengiveyou 7daystoreturnthe vehicleifyou just don’t getonwithit. Foraninformalchatwithone of ourspecially trainedArmed Forces carfinance AccountManagers, please call 03335 775533,calls chargedat standard landlinerate. Alternatively, youcan go to www.mkcarfinance.co.uk andfill in thestraightforward applicationform24hours aday andwewill getbacktoyou duringoffice hours. M K Abetterway to getacaronfinance CarFinance

19.9% APRRepresentative TherepreseCantativrFeAPRinmeanans5ce1% or more of ourcustomers whoapplythrough thewebsite andtakeupanoffer of financepay arateof19.9% APRorless. If youare accepted andyour credit historyisgood youcould potentially be offered an APRlower than this rate,ifyourcredithistory is poor youcould potentially be offered an APRhigherthanthisrate. Finance applications arealwayssubject to status andaffordabilitychecks,writtenquotationsare availableuponrequest. *Not allapplications forfinance will receiveanoffer.For details please contactusbyphone or visitwww.mkcarfinance.co.uk Unique Financial Services SouthEastLTD T/AMKCar Finance ConstableHouse,20Simpson Rd,FennyStratford,Milton Keynes,MK2 2DE Authorised andregulated by theFinancial ConductAuthority.FirmReference Number 666832.

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Spring 2016 | Homeport 25 Navy Life | My Navy –

We asked Helen craven, Head of digital in Fleet Media to explain about ‘My navy –the offer’, the new section of the Royal navy’s website devoted to the Service man or woman. ‘My Navy the Offer’isdesigned to bring to life at the benefits are really good. I’ve bought your fingertips the pay and benefits available to someone on full-time Service within the Royal Navy my own house using FHtB. and Royal Marines. The people, the comradeship, that The intention was to be able to draw together the broader we have in the navy is second to details of allowances and benefits into one tool that none. Royal Navy –TwoSix could reflect your personal situation –how many miles from base? How many children? Do you claim meals further training,orwork towards formal academic allowances? and vocational qualifications. Even more importantly –did you know that you (or your Most usefully,from 1st April 2016 you’ll be able to go to family member in the military) could claim these benefits? www.royalnavy.mod.uk/mynavy and see the reality of the changes in numbers. The ready reckoner totals up as you go. The all-important figures show the value of your package and all the At the end of the calculator,you see atotal salary,with the additional perks of which you might not be aware, such as boost of the Service benefits, allowances and pension.

26 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Navy Life –The Offer

©LA(Phot) Joel Rouse

The tool also lists anumber of tax-free allowances that fall on world-leading technology; it’s all there. to the military person’s lot. But we know it can improve –and we need your help. We’ve added information on charities set up to help The current site is designed around the Service person, Service people and their families and alink to apply for a and we’ve offered some explanation of the language. HM Forces railcard –towhich you are also eligible as the spouse or civil partner of someone in the Services. It is with thanks to Greenwich Hospital who kindly stepped in to offer their support that we are at this point, but We have tried to highlight some of the benefits of Service life there’s still some more work to do. that are about more than money –the spirit of camaraderie and friendships are second to none, travel around the globe What’s the best approach for you as afamily member? Is the language abarrier? There’s awhole heap of terms alot of things have kept me here understood by people inside the Naval service, but do these translate across as meaningful to you in the outside really: Friendships are, people you world? meet, deployments, money Please take alook at www.royalnavy.mod.uk/mynavy –everything. and let us know what you think through the website’s Royal Marine –TwoSix contact form.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 27 providing the verybest in affordable and accessible Health, Leisure and Accommodation facilities

The China Fleet Club – 25 Years Serving the Royal Navy &Royal Marines Family

Anna Wright, NFF Director,visited the support by widening its beneficiary pool in 2014 China Fleet Club recently to find out what to include Reservists and added new beneficiary the Trust and Club have been doing for categories to include serving Officers, Veterans families over the past 25 years, and how and attached forces and their families. they have supported the ever changing The contemporary,non-military and family- needs of the RN &RMfamily. friendly environment means individuals or families The China Fleet Trust CEO Alex Sharpe, aformer can enjoy some valuable downtime away from the RN Warrant Officer,hosted Anna to show her what many challenges that Service or daily life brings. was on offer for RN &RMfamilies at the Club on The breadth of facilities and services on offer at the beautiful Tamar Estuary,near Plymouth. the China Fleet Club means many things to many The China Fleet Trust, the charity who own the users, from ‘keeping healthy or relaxing’ to a club, has invested many millions of pounds ‘meeting place or an escape’ and is determined improving and extending its facilities and to continue supporting the RN &RMfamily increasing its beneficiary discounts and by providing the very best in affordable and subsidies to broaden its appeal to the accessible Health, Leisure and Accommodation wider Rn &RMfamily. It also increased that facilities.

28 Homeport |Spring 2016 Anna toured the 180 acre site and saw the wide •OFSTED approved Pre-school Group &Crèche range of facilities which include; services •41self-catering apartments •18hole Golf Course •Indoor swimming pool with flume &water features •Golf Shop, Driving Range &Golf simulator •Aqua Spa –including –Tepidarium, loungers, Foot Anna was delighted to hear that the club intends to Spas, Sauna, Aroma Steam room, Salt Steam room, repeat its support of last year by providing 12 xshort spa &relaxation area breaks to beneficiaries (via the Warrant Officer of the •Gym, Spinning Cycle Room, Exercise studio &Sports Naval Service) for Families of Deployed Personnel. The Hall (with over 55 exercise classes aweek) Club is also planning to celebrate its 25th anniversary •Health &Beauty Treatment Centre by hosting events in support of other military charities, including RNRMC and Homeless Veterans. •Squash, Badminton &Tennis Courts •Restaurant, brasserie and various function rooms The China Fleet Club is delighted to offer one RN/RM (FREE Function Room Hire for beneficiary events) family aLong Weekend Stay,please see page 70 for •Children’s soft play area details.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 29 Navy Life | Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces Increased Powers

on the 1st January2016 afully reformed Service complaints process was implemented, bringing with it the crown appointment of Service complaints ombudsman whose powers will be significantly greater than those of the now abolished office of Service complaints commissioner.

The new process seeks to support serving members of the Armed FoTrces and former Service personnel, who feel they have been wronged in a matter relating to their Service, to raise astatement of complaint and to have confidence that their Chain of Command will handle it seriously and in atimely manner. In the detail, the internal Service Complaints process is radically changing,reducing from two levels of appeal to one. The Chain of Command will receive delegated powers by the Defence Council to investigate the complaint and to grant appropriate redress, thus enabling each complaint to be dealt with at the lowest possible level, and with the aim of creating open communication within the command. comprehensive guidance for all parties who are The Ombudsman, Nicola Williams, will implicated in aService Complaint. use her newly established powers to consider It is paramount that Naval Service personnel the merits of acomplaint; review whether an receive the treatment they deserve and the Service individual’s complaint was handled correctly; Complaints Ombudsman will strive to ensure that investigate whether maladministration, including any proven wrongdoing is appropriately addressed undue delay,took place during the handling of and, where awrong is to be rectified, it will be aService Complaint; examine the substance of a done in atimely manner.She will continue to work complaint; and hold the Service to account. She hard to make the new process reliable, resilient, will also provide annual reports to Parliament in and one in which Naval personnel will trust. which she will evaluate whether the Armed Forces Further information on the new Service are delivering afair,efficient and effective Service Complaints process can be found on the Gov.uk Complaints system. website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/armed- The policy for all Armed Forces personnel to refer forces-service-complaints-process to is JSP 831 Redress of Individual Grievance: Information and contact details for the Service Service Complaints, which is now split into two Complaints Ombudsman can be found here: parts: ‘Guidance’ and ‘Directive’. It provides www.servicecomplaintsombudsman.org.uk

30 Homeport |Spring 2016 RoyalMaritime Club Nautical but Nice! Three StarAccreditation from Visit England ... theperfect venue for get-togethers, overnightstays, ROYROYAALLMMARITIMEARITIMECLUBCLHERITUB HERITAGE AGE first class holiday breaks, social occasions and business meetings. (FORMERLYKNOWN AS THE ROYAL SAILORS’ HOME CLUB) The Club was first established in 1851 on the present site and was known as the Sailors’ Home. It was instigated by well-meaning local citizens(FORMERLwho wereappalled at theYKway theNOWNseamen of theASRoyal NavyTHEweretreROated onYAtheirLSreturnfAILromtwoORS’or three yearsHOMEat sea and wasCLUB) opened to provide respectable home comforts as well as asafe place to leave their money AsThefar asClubis known,wasthe prfirstefix ‘Royal’establishedwas added inin18551851followingonavtheisit bypresentthe Prince Consort,site andfollowingwaswhichknownQueen asVictoriathebecameSailors’ apatron of the Club. Charitable status was granted in 1883. It is thought that the addition of the word‘Club’ may have occurred just after Set in the heart of British naval tradition and theHome.First WorldItWawasr. instigated by well-meaning local citizens who were appalled at the way the seamen of the Royal Navy were treated on their returnfrom two or three years at sea and was synonymous with naval standardsofexcellence, On 10 January 1941 half the building was bombed by enemy action and two opened to provide respectable homemonthscomforlater onts10asMarwellch theasremainderasafewasplacecompletelytodestrleaveoyed ThetheirRoyalmoney Navy decided to rebuild the Club and through appeals to the Fleet and various theRoyal Maritime Club offers club members Naval Funds, the present building was completed and officially opened on As far as is known, the prefix ‘Royal’4Mwasarch 1952,addedwith inadditional1855floorsfollowingopened on av17 Decemberisit by 1956the andPrincethe Consort, and guests: Families Annexe (now renamed the West Wing) in 1962 In 1988, with funds donatedfollowingfrom thewhichChina FleetQueenClub inVictoriaHong Kong,becamethe LeisureCapentratronewas of the crClub.eated Charitable status was granted in 1883. It is thought � Awelcomingambience Overthatthetheyearsadditiontherehave beenof theanumberwordof Royal‘Club’visits:may have occurred just 1924afterHRHtheThe DukeFirstofWoYork,rldlaterWaKingr. George V � Over 100 comfortable bedrooms 1932 HRH The Prince of Wales, later King EdwardVIII On 10 January1941 half the building was bombed by 1986 HM Queen Elizabeth II � Special rates for seafarersand othermilitary 1987enemyHRH PrinceactionCharles,andPrincetwoof Wamonthsles later on 10 March the remainder was completely destroyed The Royal Navy personnel 1994 HRH Prince Andrew,Duke of York 1998decidedHRHs Princeto rebuildand PrincesstheMichaelClubof andKent through appeals to the � Enjoymentofindoor leisure facilities HM Queen Elizabeth II was Patron of the Club until 2007, whenFleetthe Patrandonagevariouswas acceptedNavalby HRHFunds,Prince Charles,the presentPrince of Wabuildingles was completed and officially opened on 4March 1952, with � Horatio’srestaurantserving aset price dinner Over the years, the Club has evolved into its present form and has been able to open its doors to other categories of members However, the men and women of the Royal Navy remain as the beneficiariesadditionalof the Charityfloors opened on 17 December 1956 and the Families Annexe (now renamed the � Traditional buffet style English breakfast West Wing) in 1962 In 1988, with funds donated from the China Fleet Club in Hong Kong, the Leisure Centre was created HM Queen Elizabeth II was Patron of the Club until 2007, when the Patronage was accepted by HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales Allthis at the centre of Portsmouth’sunique Over the years, the Club has evolved into its present formand has been able to open its doors to other categories of members naval heritage –HMS Victory, the Mary Rose However,the men and women of the Royal Navy remain as the beneficiaries of the Charity and HMS Warrior are all close by.Soare the Three Star Ambition realised at last rail andferry links, Gunwharf Quays shopping complex and thebreathtaking Spinnaker Alot of people will remember with fondness the Royal Sailor’s Home Club in Queen Street Portsmouth. In the days before 24 hour licensing, it provided acheap pint for naval ratings and dockyard workers during hours that pubs were shut. It also provided acomfybed Tower. for the night with plentiful, affordable food and drink. Afew years ago, it was realised that the needs of its members had changed significantly and that, with the decline of the Royal Navy and Fully licensed for Marriage ceremonies. the importance of bringing tourism to the historic dockyard, aremodelling of the club was overdue. The problem was the club needed a new image but still had to fulfil its charitable duties. Contact us for details of former Militaryand The Royal Maritime Club was launched with these aims in mind. Associate Membership. Several years down the line, the club has become apopular venue for events including reunion lunches and banquets, wedding receptions, Christmas dinner dances to name afew.Revenue from these events and the provision of accommodation fund the charity with many deserving causes associated with HM Forces benefitting. Excellenceand Tradition at... General Manager at the helm is John Alderson, an experienced hotelier who declared his ambition to bring the club’s facilities up to 3star standards and encourage more people to use the club as abase for exploring the myriad attractions of Historic Portsmouth. There were many pitfalls along the way,the aged 1950s structure, plumbing and wiring needed renewing along with many fixtures and fittings. With his experienced crew of departmental heads and their teams, John set about achieving his dream. Appreciation must also go to The Board of Trustees who have shown enormous supporttothe Club over many years and between them bring awealth of experience into their governing role Queen Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3HS Amassive refurbishment programme was undertaken with supportfrom our Bankers. Accessible facilities have been introduced with funding from H4H and accredited with Mobility 1, Mobility 2and Mobility 3Assisted by Visit Britain. Club Tel: (023)9282 4231 � Events Tel: (023)9283 5842 E: [email protected] The Club acknowledges with gratitude H4H and also Seafarers UK &RNRM Charity for funding further projects. Now the club is proud to have been granted aThree Star Hotel accreditation from “Visit England”. This means that leisure and business guests alike can enjoy comfortable and modernaccommodation with the level of service they have come to expect from hotels of this type. John’s ambition has been achieved but the work continues www.royalmaritimeclub.co.uk (Accommodation and Event Suites are available for the general public to book) CYCLE FOR SSAFA

Ride of Britain: 21-25 September

Take part in our 5day,500 mile cycle challenge forour Forces and their families. Start in historic Edinburgh and pedal your way through challenging terrain and beautiful scenery intothe heart of London. Call 02074639297 Email teamssafa@ssafa.org.uk Visit ssafa.org.uk/rideofbritain Minimum sponsorship pledge applies.

Registered charityNo.210760 and SCO38056.Established 1885. JOBREF:S094.0216

Spring 2016 | Homeport 31 Navy Life |

Are YOu ?

When it comes to fitnessthere’sanew Royal Navy intranet and the Royal Navy’s website and benchmark to aim for–NavYfit. The social media sites. peak of physical and mental fitnessfor Navalpersonnel, NavYfit is the name for NAVYfit will be regularly updated with new fitness plans and workouts along with information on health initiatives, anew websitededicatedtoproviding how to join sports associations and take part in the many a‘one-stopshop’ forall things sport, Adventurous Training opportunities. adventurous training and physical education. NAVYfit is afresh initiative to encourage personnel towards ahealthier lifestyle. The new website details NAVYfit, replacing the former PDev Portal and hosted on different ways to stay active on aregular basis as well the homepage of the Defence Gateway,isonly available as information and guidance on quitting smoking and to Service personnel. It can also be accessed from the improving apoor diet.

32 Homeport |Spring 2016 NewYear, | Navy Life NewYou

by Jane WWiilliams,lliams, deputy director,,n nFFFF

Eeekk... When did that happen? It’s well known that re- search tells us that when we are settled into ara relationshipelationship we can become ‘content’, and your previously honed and toned body that was trotted around all the trendy hot-spots, draped in the latest fashion, can become ala littleittle more ‘l‘livedived in’’a ass the years roll on, but blimey! IsI seemedeemed to have turned being amiddle aged Mum into anear art form! Are all the mirrors in my house positioned at shoulder height? YeYes!s! Does my inner voice say: ‘O‘OKK,, yes lovely,o, oh,h, a glass of white please!’ Does my husband say ‘you with all those curves and me with no brakes!’ WeWell,ll, luckily for me, he does. However,,t thishis has plotted me on aca courseourse for ‘super content-ness’ and, as such, the creep up and up of the scales has ‘just happened’. needed to do something,this seemed just the ticket. Some of us are lucky enough to attend Mess events or sup- We joined forces with two other willing ‘supermodels in wait- pers, and most of the time avery talented photographer will ing’ types, and settled on the team name of ‘Beasty’s Babes’ take asnappy shot of you in your finest. Well, this is largely what happened to us. As we bopped the evening away the (one bloke, three chicks) and off we trotted to be weighed, said photo was developed and OMG the result was, even to measured and have our BMI calculated. The results were my hung-over eyes, not good. But, the prospect of aperky horrible but not unexpected. slimming club rep telling me that celery was the way forward Right, we want the prize for the most improved team, so no has been tried and failed before. more messing about, eat well and move more! First weigh-in As the birthdays have racked up and the steady increase in three weeks later ateam loss of 8kg or 18lbs. My husband girth continued, the reality of being out of puff even on a and Ilost ½stone each and all of the team had abetter BMI walk began to become evident. If result, and most surprising for me this was what was happening on was that Iwaved goodbye to 4½ the outside, what was going on in inches from my waist! the inside? Did we starve ourselves? Waslipo- My own particular ‘Sailor with the suction involved? No. Step in super Navy Blue eyes’ was also show- hero friend and work colleague, who ing visible signs of being too in- bought us acopy of the Hairy Dieter’s dulgent in the fridge department, cookbook. Ilove cooking (how we and quite honestly ahug was got into this state in the first place), dominated by boobs and bellies so leafing through the recipes was (sorry if you are eating!). We both knew we needed to do something no hardship. We looked at our fridge about it but were set in our com- contents against recipe ingredients fortable ways of home life. and were pleased that we had the good stuff already there. Just needed Christmas 2015 was yet again a the courage to jettison some of the wonderful ‘blow out’with all the European Cheese Mountain and Salted trimmings, sleep was troubled Caramel Ice-Cream! Enter willing by heartburn or snoring and we teenage children. They have displayed both looked at each other and remarkable tenacity in helping demol- said ‘it’s time’. ish these naughty but so tasty goodies. The e-mailed invite to join the But what they have also done is cook ‘New Year,New You’ competi- alongside us and have loved the dinners tion being run by the PTIs at that have been the result. HMS NELSON popped into my husband’s inbox at work. The We have not needed any marriage blurb told us that we could join a counselling (yet) and both feel awhole competition to shape up and get better,but more on this in the next issue moving.Knowing full well that we of Homeport.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 33 Navy Life |

First members of Shipmates and Oppos with Rear Admiral Simon Williams (Naval Secretary,NavSec)

in Jackspeak’. The team will help you to find employment support, financial advice, applications for charitable help, Safety Net coping with traumatic stress, accessing statutory help and child education. The programme is open to anyone who has served in the Royal Navy,Royal Marines, RFA, the Maritime Reserves or QARNNS,officers, ratings and other ranks, and it does not matter if you served for decades or forLeavers just asingle day.Shipmates and Oppos recognises that ayounger leaver may faces different challenges (such as ANEW ‘safety net’ for Service leavers has the need for asecond career,children’s education), than an older leaver (who may need more help with pensions). been created by the Royal Naval Association in partnership with the RN and leading Navy Service leavers will be invited to register at the Release charities and organisations. Office, and will be contacted annually for five years to check they are coping.They can opt out of the free service at any point, and equally those who have left in the last five years can opt in if they feel the need. Based on the existing ‘Shipmates’ programme (described as ‘an arm around the shoulder’for those re-joining Civvy Street), the new expanded initiative has been it does not matter if you named ‘Shipmates and Oppos’. Research has shown that most people leaving the Service served for decades or successfully meet the challenge of adapting to civilian life, aided by the Career Transition Partnership and other such just asingle day groups. However,asmall number struggle to bridge the gap, and often have apoor idea of how to find support after discharge from the Naval Service. Shipmates and Oppos is an official RN programme, and Shipmates and Oppos is aimed at those who struggle, will be delivered by the RNA,Greenwich Hospital (which and offers atailored five-year programme from the point is providing the funding), the White Ensign Association, at which they leave; although anyone who needs such the Royal Marines Association and the Association of help is invited to contact the Association. Royal Navy Officers. Acting as asignposting service, and managed entirely by Ayear’s free membership of the relevant organisations former RN or RM personnel, the programme is designed is also included. Visit www.shipmatesandoppos.org.uk to offer a‘sympathetic, low-hassle point of contact fluent for more information or telephone 023 9272 0782.

34 Homeport |Spring 2016 BestBest foot forforwaward inintoto worworkk

We’reWe’re herehere toto helphelp wounded,wounded, injured or sick ex-Service men injuredand wo menor sick take ex-Service that first menstep andback wom intoen wo takrk.e that first step back into work. To reboot your life,call 020 8939 1837 Toor rebvisitootwwyouw.rlpoppyfife, callactor02y.o08rg939 1837 or visit www.poppyfactory.org Advertorial

Forthe past 70 years, the Forces Pension Society has served the interestsoftheArmedForcesandtheirfamiliesastheirindependent pension watchdog. With four schemes now operating Armed Forces Pensions have never been more complex, so our Pension Advisory Service is busier than ever,dealing with enquiries from our Members.

they will do it sensitively AFPS 15 this increase is adjusted to reflect Q. What sort of financial evidence would how much of your service you spent in each Veterans UK be looking for? scheme. Thus, if someone had 9years in A. Evidence might include: AFPS 05 and 3years in AFPS 15, ¾ofthe AFPS 05 increase would be added to your Proof of bill sharing; actual time as in AFPS 05 and ¼ofthe AFPS Joint rent book; 15 increase times your average pension Joint bank account; would be added to the actual AFPS 15 Awill or insurance policy each naming the pension. other as the beneficiary. Q. And AFPS 75 adult pensions? These are just afew examples but you can do A. If you transferred to AFPS 15 on 1April something which would help alot -nominate 2015, the spouse/civil partner receives your partner for your death-in-service lump the Forces Family Pension (FFP) which is sum. The AFPS 05 and AFPS 15 death-in- 50% of the invaliding pension for your rank service lump sum is worth four times your and length of service, with the other 50% pensionable pay.Tonominate to receive such available for the children. Forthose who alarge sum helps to show your commitment did not transfer to AFPS 15, there is aShort to support them financially in the event of your Term Family Pension (STFP) preceding the death. ForAFPS 75 it is three times pay but FFP.This means that, if you die in service, you cannot nominate the recipient. It is paid your pensionable salary is paid for 91 days to either the spouse/civil partner or,ifnone, to (if there are no eligible children) or 182 days ere Mary Petley from the Forces Pension the children or,ifnone, your estate. Only one (if there are). Thanks to the success of the HSociety describes the benefits payable scheme pays out, and that will be the scheme Forces Pension Society campaign for Justice to the family from each of the Armed Forces that the member belongs to at the time of his for Widows, AFPS 75 adult pensions are now Pension Schemes in the event of death in or her death. paid for life. service. It is something that nobody likes to Q. How do Inominate recipients of this Q. What about my children? lump sum? think about but is vitally important for peace A. ForAFPS 05 and AFPS 15, your partner will of mind given the often dangerous work that A. It is easy.Download AFPS Form 2from the get 62.5% of your pension entitlement. That members of the Armed Forces do. internet, complete it and send it to: leaves 37.5% of your pension to be divided There is an old saying that goes ‘All the nice DBS, between any eligible children. girls love asailor’–I’m sure that it is as true Pensions Division, An eligible child is any natural child who is now as it ever was but these days, even though Mailpoint 580, financially dependent on the member who is: we may enter into acommitted relationship Kentigern House, Under 18; with them, we don’t necessarily marry Under 23 and still in full time education or them! The absence of the legal trappings of 65 Brown Street, vocational training; marriage or civil partnership presents particular Glasgow,G28EX considerations for unmarried couples –same- Youcan nominate one recipient or more than Or achild who is unable to work due to sex or heterosexual, the issues are the same. one, stipulating how the lump sum is to be disability incurred before aged 23. Service personnel do adangerous job and it is shared. ForAFPS 75, the age criteria above alter only only right that they and their ‘significant other’ Q. If Idonot nominate my spouse or partner, in as much as age 18 reduces to age 17. The understand what the various Armed Forces is the lump sum lost? scheme expects you to have been married to Pension Schemes (AFPSs) provide, should the A. No. If there is aspouse or civil partner it will the parent of the child (natural, adopted or a worst happen. At the Forces Pension Society we be paid to them, or if Veterans UK agree that step-child) but, where death occurs in service, get many questions about spouse and partner your partner is eligible to receive apension, eligibility is extended to illegitimate children. benefits and this short article looks at death in they will receive it. However,nomination In all three schemes the sums available for the service benefits for families, with aparticular reduces delay,helps prove eligibility and children are divided up as follows: emphasis on unmarried partners. makes your wishes clear. If an adult pension is in payment, no child Q. Would my ‘other half’ get apension in the Q. So how much will the AFPS 05 and AFPS can receive more than ¼ofyour pension event of my death? 15 pensions be worth? entitlement. A. AFPS 75 will pay apension to aspouse A. ForAFPS 05 and AFPS 15, the pension is If an adult pension is not in payment and the or civil partner.Inthis, the oldest AFPS, an worth 62.5% of your pension entitlement children are not living with aparent or step- unmarried partner is only entitled to benefits calculated as if you had been invalided with parent, no child can receive more than 1/3 of if your death is due to service. AFPS 05 and aTier 3health condition, and it is paid for your pension entitlement. AFPS 15 will pay apension to aspouse, civil life. Putting it as simply as possible, your If you are aMember of the Forces Pension partner or unmarried partner.All unmarried pensionable service under each scheme Society and have questions about family partners who claim an AFPS pension will would be increased by half of prospective benefits or any other AFPS issue, please have to meet the ‘substantial partner’ test. service to age 55 (for AFPS 05) and to age 60 email your query to pensionenquiries@ Q. What is this test? (for AFPS 15). If the increase plus the actual forpen.co.uk . A. Youmust be living together and your service totals less than 20 years (for AFPS 05) If you are not amember and would partner must be financially dependent on or or 25 years (for AFPS 15), the higher figure like to learn more about the interdependent with you. Veterans UK will is used. Forces Pension Society,visit our website seek evidence of eligibility –they have to but If you were transferred from AFPS 05 to www.forcespensionsociety.org. 36 Homeport |Spring 2016 Advertorial

1946 –2016

Chris Adams,FPS Member FIGHTING FOR THE FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES

Chrissw wrroottee ttoo our PPeensionnsion AdAdvvisorisoryyS Servicefe for information about his Terminal GrGraanntt.. BeBeffoorree contacting us,,h heeh hadad bbeeenen given ccoonflnflic icttinging advice.

We deal with hundreds of such enquiries from our Members helping them through the AFPS ppeensionnsion mazeevery month. Join us and see howwecan help you. Or simply become aMember forthe peaceof mind of knowing we’reheretohelp youwhen you need us.You’llbeingood company; we have more than 45,000 Members.

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Spring 2016 | Homeport 37 royalmarines association |

aview from RMA Central office

as we begin 2016, Ithought it would be appropriate to offer you aview from RMa central office of what was achieved in 2015, and the springboard last year’s successes give us for an equally challenging but opportunity-laden 2016. there is no doubt that 2015 was ayear of real achievement for the association, reflected in many comments made over the course of the year. Perhaps the most significant development of last year,and magazine every could. While Iamaware that there have amajor step towards the modernisation of the Association, been afew teething troubles with the distribution of the first was the launch, at last year’s AGM, of the RMA’s new website. issue, we are working with Homeport to resolve the problems. This site represents significant progress towards our goal of Last year saw acontinuing drive to reach out and build the improving communications across the Association, and after membership. The advent of more new Branches, especially four months of operation it is already proving its worth on virtual Branches like the Landing Craft Branch as well as that front as well as continuing to develop as new ideas and requirements for its performance emerge from feedback interest groups like the Bikers Branch and the RMA Rugby from you, the members. It is now possible to join the RMA Football Club are proving particularly successful. The online, for Branches to post their own news, for individuals establishment of more such Branches will always be welcome, to take the first step in seeking assistance from the RMA,and so please do not hesitate to approach Central Office if you so much more. Iknow some people are reluctant to activate wish to start anew branch. Iencourage you to make every their accounts, but Iwould urge you all to overcome this effort this year to recruit more new members that will help to reluctance, and seek afriend’s or family member’s assistance reinvigorate our Association; in the process; please do not if necessary; the website is already developing into the central forget to enjoy one another’s company and have fun! hub of the RMA and if you do not use it you will miss ahuge The support for enfranchising more of the membership amount of what is going on around the Association. through the approval at AGMofOne Member,One Vote Hand in hand with the website goes the development of new (OMOV) is another major positive innovation and we are social media platforms, established specifically with the aim working on the details of its implementation. My intention is of being relevant to younger members of the Association, for to see the first inclusive voting take place in time for the AGM whom the mobile phone is understandably an integral part this year. of their lives. While the RMA has apresence on the obvious As aresult of another initiative passed at the AGMweare platforms of Facebook and Twitter,Ihave been introduced now also in the process of finalising the application to the by one of our Trustees to acompany that specialises in using Charity Commission to become aCompany Limited by social media for income generation through advertising Guarantee, having already registered the Association as a and am currently in discussions to find out more about this new legal entity with Companies House. initiative and how it might be of value to the RMA.Inparallel with digital communications goes the migration of our There is much more that is being done to improve the offer to magazine to this journal, generously funded by Greenwich you all and as the initiatives mature Ilook forward to sharing Hospital and bringing with it ahugely increased readership them with you. However,you would wish to be aware that we profile and well as aproduct in the round that carries much are working to produce apolicies and procedures manual, a more content of relevance to our families than the RMA Branch Secretary’s Guide and we are considering an exciting

38 Homeport |Spring 2016 | royalmarines association proposal to bring the Corps Family even closer together by Cameron March in their magnificent efforts in support of the merging the RMA Reunion with the CTCRM Families day, whole Corps Family; John Reed, aformer RM Bandsman, has which Iestimate may be possible in 2017. The sharp eyed only just arrived; he is already adding real benefit and much will have noticed that RMCTF has merged with CGroup needed Welfare capacity and resilience in Central Office. and is now known as ‘The Royal Marines Charity’; it goes Ivery much look forward to taking the Association forward without saying that throughout the year ahead the Central this year and to building on all that was achieved in 2015. Office will be working to move closer to the new RM Charity. Assisted by the stalwart efforts of the Central Office team, my Those of you who attended the AGMlast year will remember aim is to work to deliver an Association for you that continues CGRM’s words about the RM Network that he is developing. to grow and improve to meet the changing needs of its His directive to the RMA is to put itself at the centre of the membership –the Corps Family.Ilook forward to seeing as Network, and we are already developing new initiatives with many of you as possible on my travels throughout 2016. the serving Corps to take forward that remit. Iamdelighted to be able to tell you that in recognition of the increasing number of welfare cases that the team Mike Ellis are supporting we have recently recruited anew part-time Chief Executive member of staff specifically to augment Wendy Sheen and

Meet the Royal Marine Association -Central Office Te am www.royalmarinesassociation.org.uk

Charlie Wilson Richie Puttock Renee Davies Riccardo Berogna Principal Development Officer Operations Manager MAATAccountant Finance and Admin Assistant [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Wendy Sheen Cameron March Mark Ormrod Joe Lane Welfare &Grants Officer Principal Veteran Support Officer Welfare &Operations Assistant Operations Director [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Royal Marines Shop Ltd [email protected]

John Reed Welfare Admin Assistant [email protected]

Spring 2016 | Homeport 39 royalmarines association | Introducing

Both the Royal Marines charitable tr ust Fund and the cGroup have been hugely successful over the last three years, and whilst both charities developed individual areas of expertise there were increasing areas of overlap. To support their combined beneficiaries better over the next and Safety and Port security and so Alex asked The CGroup decade and beyond, the Royal Marines Charitable Trust for help and some funding for further courses to secure this Fund and The CGroup merged in January 2016 to create position and attended acareer workshop with Transport for The Royal Marines Charity. London. Subsequently he started employment as aHSSE The creation of The Royal Marines Charity will: Adviser and has now been given the role as HSE/ Security • increase their ability to assist beneficiaries through Lead. improved fundraising,transition, benevolence and grant-making Kilimanjaro Trek 2015 • create asingle point of contact for requests from - JJ Chalmers (JJ) and Paul beneficiaries Vice MC (Vicey) were both • create asingle point of contact for support from donors severely injured in Helmand • inspire stronger engagement with the Corps family and province in 2011. Their the support network trek up Kilimanjiro was a • provide aplatform for increased membership of the significant milestone in their RMA recovery after four years of • create stronger links with civil society rehabilitation. • create aunified brand with significant profile and In 2011 Vicey suffered over credibility,fit to serve the Corps. 100 significant wounds and ‘died’ twice as he was Projects that have been supported by the two airlifted back to Camp charities include: Bastion in 2011. He lost aleg as aresult of his ChipsAway injuries. JJ had to undergo - Aformer reconstructive surgery on Royal Marine his face and legs. The right side of his face almost saw his world collapsed, he lost two fingers and others had to be collapse wired back on, and his right elbow disintegrated. around him, Doctors grafted his arm to his stomach to keep it after suffering supplied with blood while they repaired the joint with alife-long titanium. injury, The CGroup arranged for JJ,Vicey,and their wives preventing him from continuing in the job he loved. (Kornelia &Tess) to take on achallenge that would However,thanks to the support of Devon based charities test them to their limits, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, including the CGroup, former Colour Sergeant Andy Africa’s highest Peak &the world’s tallest free-standing Burns has successfully found anew challenge in life mountain, all 19,341ft of it, in sub-zero temperatures. after retraining to run his own business and launched ChipsAway Exeter in February 2015. The Royal Marines Charity is asingle, unified and integrated charity for the Royal Marines extended Corps Alex’s Story - family,where cadets, the serving Corps, veterans and Since leaving the Marines January 2014 as aRoyal Marines families are supported through life with benevolence, Physical Training Instructor.Alex was keen to move into the comradeship, transition support and amenities, underpinned Health and Safety industry (oil and gas) so he could work with acohesive sense of heritage and esprit de corps. offshore as it would be asimilar life style to what he was The Royal Marines Charity will remain aproud part of the used to. An opportunity came up doing ajoint role of Health Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity group.

40 Homeport |Spring 2016 | royalmarines association

The Ripple Pond –who are they?

What supportdoes the Ripple Pond offer to families? We new and existing members in touch with one another, asked Julia Molony,one of the Ripple Pond Founders, to so regardless of whether there is ameeting in the diary, explain. they can still access one-to-one support. We also have a‘secret’Facebook page. This is ajudgement-free area The Ripple Pond was established in 2011 by Julia Molony where members can share their stories, celebrate agood and Sue Hawkins, both mothers to physically injured day or commiserate after abad day and ask questions. soldiers. They individually reached out at atime when There will always be someone around to comment and their lives were changing forever and found little in the offer support. way of support for the family members of the injured. Realising if they were in this position others would be too, The very act of being heard, acknowledged and accepted they formed The Ripple Pond. is hugely cathartic, talking about asituation might not change it but it can help aperson to find away through, The Ripple Pond is aself-help support network for the and knowing they’re not alone in their struggles can be a adult family members of physically or emotionally injured huge relief. Service personnel and veterans. They are not acrisis The Ripple Pond currently has organisation and do not the veryact of being groups running throughout offer therapy.The emphasis the UK with the potential is on meeting others in a heard, acknowledged for more. All we need to face-to-face situation (where organise agroup is more possible), to give and receive and accepted is than two members wanting support from those who are to meet, and aGroup walking asimilar journey to hugely cathartic Administrator. yourself. The Ripple Pond gained There are three avenues of charity status in March 2015 support for members, the main being group meetings. and now has two administrative staff based in the Hub These are kept small (in terms of the number of in Aldershot. Funding has been gained from Annington attendees), ensuring everyone has the opportunity to share Limited, The Royal British Legion and more recently The and be heard. They happen every 4-8 weeks depending Army Benevolent Fund and The Wates Foundation. on the group’s needs and are facilitated by aGroup Formore information, please get in touch with the Hub at Administrator (who is avolunteer member of The Ripple [email protected] or phone 01252 913 021. Or Pond). We also have a‘buddy’system whereby we put see our website www.theripplepond.org.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 41 royalmarines association | ©Rupert Frere

3good legs between them –Rowing, Unsupported over 3,000 nautical Miles

Four British Military Amputees, including Royal from Yelverton. After coming through three operational Marine Colour Sergeant LeeSpencer,46, set off in tours of Afghanistan unscathed, Leelost his right leg December as the Row2Recovery Crew taking on the below the knee after being hit by flying debris as he was helping save the life of acrashed civilian motorist on the Atlantic Ocean as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic central reservation of the M3 in Surrey. Challenge. Row2Recovery supports Adaptive Rowing for the British The four military amputees rowed 3,000 miles across Military Wounded, Injured and Sick in partnership with the Atlantic ocean to raise money for their fellow injured British Rowing and Help for Heroes. The tri-Service team Service personnel. will be raising money for Help for Heroes, Blemsa, Prince Renowned for its tough conditions, participants typically Harry’s Endeavour Fund and Row2Recovery. row two hours on, two hours off,24hours per day. Editor’s Note: The first British all amputee team of four Competitors burn around 8,000 calories daily and lose military men to row an ocean in the world’s toughest ocean roughly 20% of their body weight over the duration of the rowing race, arrived into English Harbour, Antigua on 4th race. Alongside physical exertion, the rowers face 40 foot February after 46 days, 6hours and 49 minutes at sea waves, tropical storms, sleep deprivation, sweltering heat unaided in arowing boat. What an achievement! and the psychological challenges of living and working in Youcan still donate to the Row2Recovery Atlantic aturbulent natural environment. Race, visit www.row2recovery.com for more Serving Royal Marine Colour Sergeant LeeSpencer,46is information and to makeadonation.

42 Homeport |Spring 2016 TheRoyal Hampstead Education Trust Do you need help with fees for any school, college, or university in the UK?

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Spring 2016 | Homeport 43 royalmarines association | | royalmarines association

the life of aRecruit in the Royal Marines Reserves

by Recruit aBout-tu rn

Iamauniversity student, living in physical exercise, just to keep the of the entire weekend as it was spent halls that are atrain ride away from heart rates up! This was sure enough over what seemed like hours as the the base where my Potential Royal followed by,you guessed it, more training team pushed us to our limits, phys! This time as ateam, constantly and beyond! Marine course (PRMc) took place being observed by the training team that would enable me to starttraining to make sure we gave nothing less Notwithstanding the exhaustion, I for the Royal Marines Reserves. than 100%. have fond memories of the PRMC as it was where Imet alot of the friends This train ride was filled with Then we came to the point in the day Ihave made through the shared apprehension and nerves as I where everyone was looking forward experience, and we now reminisce imagined being subjected to all sorts to getting some sleep and recovering over one of the hardest physical of far-fetched tortures over the next from the day.However,this is when weekends of our lives, so far! two and ahalf days on the physical it dawned on us that there were selection course. clothes that need washing,drying and Success on this weekend of endless ironing in order to make ourselves fun meant Iwas able to start the 12- I’d heard that in military life, sprinting presentable for inspection in the 16 month journey towards the Green everywhere and practically inhaling morning. Beret. Iwould soon be out on my first your food is something you either get used to promptly or have remedial After nearly no sleep at all, we were exercise, getting to know my kit and exercise (or ‘phys’) to help you to physically proving ourselves again learning how to live out of whatever I learn. the next day.This time in aswimming could carry on my back. Having next- pool. By now,cramps were starting to-no sleep would soon be second The phys is what the whole of PRMC to kick in and the feeling that we nature! is based on and so the Saturday had proved ourselves was something contained amaximum physical effort This article is the first instalment in that the training team didn’t seem to criteria test that had to be passed in amini-series in Homeport to follow share. order to continue with the course. On this new recruit’s journey and the completion of this, we were quickly On to the timed run and motivation experiences of him and his mates outside doing more maximum effort exercise. This was the hardest part through training.

44 Homeport |Spring 2016 YOU CAN’T VOTE.

In theelections in your area in May2016. Unless you’ve registeredby18April.

It only takesafew minutes.Gotogov.uk/register-to-vote-armed-forces royalmarines association | Being aRoyal Marine is in

ourFamily Connor | anita’s Son Genes

by anita Gilby, a Great Granddaughter, Granddaughter, daughter, Wife and Mother of a Royal Marine It seems like acase of ‘HistoryRepeating Itself’, when it comes to my family and the Royal Marines. I first met Phil (my husband) in the early Luftwaffe, and he was very badly ’90s in Plymouth on a night out with friends burnt. He spent many years at (a well known street to you all, I’m sure). HMS HASLAR undergoing medical This larger than life man, with a bald head, treatment and was discharged from big smile and even bigger arms was due the Royal Marines on 18th April to deploy and to be quite honest he scared 1945 from Eastney Barracks. me a little bit. Obviously not too much, Walking in his Father’s footsteps, as a few months later we met again and my Dad, Brian, left for Deal and instantly hit it off. A typical Royal Marine, became Recruit Higgs PO16391F who knew all the quick one liners, made on 10th May 1957, Troop 672. As a me laugh and banter was constantly flying. family, we were very lucky to be able After a romantic proposal on Exmouth to live in Singapore for four years. beach (a refusal would have resulted in a We lived in a large house with stone drowning), we were married two months stairs, which I fell down on a number later on Christmas leave. of occasions (things never change), with My connection with the Royal Marines ants and chit chats sharing our space. My however did not begin here and who would brother was 9 1/2 months older than me Anita believe that I would marry one! and my twin sister, so we were more like My Great Grandfather, PO9203 Earnest triplets. It seemed like my Dad was always Sidney Higgs joined the RMLI on 2nd July away and my Mum was the main person to 1884. He had three sons, Sidney, George dish out the rewards and the punishment and John who all joined the Royal Marines, when needed. Nothing one of them being my Grandpa, PO21730 changes, it’s still John Frederick Higgs. the same today. Although we Sidney joined the RMLI (Royal Marines were very Light Infantry) on 5th September 1906. He young, I was killed in action on 31st May 1916 on remember HMS INVINCIBLE at the Battle of Jutland. watching And as I write this it is a time to reflect and the Earnest remember those who lost their lives 100 electrical Sidney years ago. storms Higgs George joined the RMLI a year later on and 19th April 1907. seeing My Grandpa joined the Royal Marines on what 11th September 1922. He was serving as dead anita’s Great Grandpa anita’s Grandpa a Gunner on HMS SUFFOLK off the coast animals of Norway, when the ship was hit by the were being

46 Homeport |Spring 2016 | royalmarines association

washed along the Phil had three tours of Afghanistan, storm drains at each one very different to us as a the front of the family, but all with the same results of house. Also, worrying, sadness and relief that he playing in came back. I went through one tour the Botanical burying my head in the sand and not Gardens and sleeping with worry, to being involved learning to with families on the next. I remember swim in the Phil deploying on Connor’s 12th pool at HMS birthday and having the heartbreak SIMBANG. of him going and the boys being phil | anita’s Husband Returning to devastated that their Dad was going the UK at the away again. Putting on a brave face age of 4, I have in public and crying in private became very fond memories par for the course. I would dread of my Grandpa, who coming home from work and seeing slept in the lounge as he a strange car in the road, thinking was unable to make the stairs. something had happened and His hands were fused together and holding my breath before opening the he had scars on his face (these were door. One question constantly going the ones we could see) and we used through my mind, ‘what if something to tease him and he us. He had a has happened?’ I was one of the lucky great bootneck sense of humour and ones. adored us all, especially my Dad. Then, on 24th September 2012 at the My Nan was amazing and was with age of 16, our youngest Son Connor my Grandpa through thick and joined Lympstone to begin his career thin and we were all devastated as a Royal Marine, 89 years (to the when he died in 1972. month) after my Grandpa. When my Father was medically Seeing him off at Exmouth train discharged in 1974, he stayed station was very emotional for me connected to the Corps through and, as always, I put on a brave face the Royal Marine Volunteer but my insides were screaming at Cadet Corps. Both of my me to pull him off the train and take brothers were in the RMVCC him home. The doors closed and he and my sister and I would go was gone and I sobbed all the way along with them. The tuck shop, home. The house was very quiet and, which was by the guard room, as the tumble weed blew through, was my favourite place and, reality struck – Phil and I had to make after getting our sweets, we would conversation now! The worries of my freeze in the spooky drill sheds. It son being in training were constantly was obviously not that bad, as we there. Was he ok? Was he homesick? used to go every week until we were Was he coping? Hoping with each 16! At least we were out of my Mum’s exercise that he would pass and not hair for a while and gave her a bit of get injured, the list was endless. And Anita gilby peace and quiet. then, on 31st May 2013, 30178639 This brings me back to where I started. Mne Gilby was passed for duty, 97 We have had our ups and downs, years to the day when my Great Uncle tears and laughter but ‘Team Gilby’ Sid died at the Battle of Jutland. I was have always stuck together. We so proud and my heart was bursting have two fantastic boys, and this time the tears were on show. Matt and Connor, who In true bookneck fashion, and despite missed their Dad being Corps RSM, Phil has been each time he went promoted from the ‘Sprog’ of the away. He lived family, a cherished position which has away during now been inherited by Connor. the week but This is going to be another always made chapter in my life and as a Great time for the Granddaughter, Granddaughter, whole family Daughter, Wife and Mother of a Royal at weekends. Marine, I am so very proud of what Then my family has achieved, in and out of Afghanistan the Corps. Maybe, who knows, in the started and it future I could be a Grandmother of a anita’s Grandpa anita’s dad was a whole Royal Marine… but not yet. different ball game.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 47 Your questionsuransweredQuestions| Answered

Q: My partner is deploying soon. I’ve heard that these is abook he can Q: I’m ringing to find out about record for our daughter for while he my husband’s leave entitlement is away? as Iamdue to have aC-section and won’t be able to drive for A: Storybook Waves exists to help six weeks after the birth. My maintain the link between parent and child, husband is currently medically no matter how far apart they may be. With downgraded and in Fort ateam of trained volunteers, Storybook Blockhouse. Waves records parents reading their child abedtime story,then adds asoundtrack to A: Your husband is advised to speak make apersonalised CD so that each child to his Divisional Office regarding time can listen to their parent’s voice whenever off as they may be able to sort out they want. To record aStorybook Waves in-house. If no luck, speak to RNRM CD, e-mail: [email protected] Welfare. or telephone: 0300 30 20 183. To find out more, visit: www.storybookwaves.org.

Q: My wife has just had an operation Q: My husband and Imay be and we live in atop floor flat. She also separating and I’m concerned about Q: My fiancée and Iare getting has Crohn’s disease and we would like our daughter’s education as they are married this year and looking to to put in welfare transfer request to both at boarding school and we claim buy ahouse. Any advice? aground floor flat. Who should we CEA. Eldest daughter is in Year 11 and A: The Joint Service Housing Advice contact? will be taking her GCSE’s this summer. Office (JSHAO) can advise you of A:To support amove for welfare Can she stay in the Boarding School all housing options available to you, reasons, serving personnel should until her exams are over? Youngest including the Forces Help to Buy contact the Royal Navy Royal Marines daughter has struggled alot in the Scheme and the Te nancy Deposit Welfare Portal Te lephone 023 9272 past due to mobility,especially a2year Loan Scheme. We would also advise 8777. overseas assignment. She has settled that you contact SIAAP (Service in her current boarding school and has Insurance and Investment Advisory never looked happier.Concerned that Panel) for wedding insurance, just in case you have to move the date if we lose CEA then she will have to of your wedding due to operational move schools again, which will set her Q: I’m contacting you as Iam reasons. concerned with the lack of back. Also we have just been told that support for parents of serving we will be moving again, if we then personnel (my son has been in RN separate, where do Istand regarding for six years). Iamasingle parent housing? Q: Iamleaving the Royal Navy and have three other children. A: If you do separate then you will need to soon. Ihave £3k outstanding on I’ve struggled every time my son plan to move from SFA, see Joint Service my LSAP (Long Service Advance has been away and am feeling Publication JSP464 for more details. of Pay) and have no money to particularly low and don’t want to The Joint Service Housing Advice Office can repay.Are there any schemes worry my son. Who can Iturn to? offer advice on what your housing options where Ican pay in instalments? are, telephone 01252 787 574. A: The Royal Navy Royal Marines A: If anyone leaves the Royal Navy Chaplaincy are more than happy to Your eldest daughter should be able to and has an outstanding LSAP then meet with parents and talk through continue at boarding school as she is in her the balance will be taken from your any concerns they have, and the final year and your youngest daughter,again terminal grant. RNRM Welfare team would also be may be able to stay in boarding school due The Joint Personnel Administration in aposition to help. Naturally,any to welfare reasons. Youneed to contact the Centre (JPAC)acts as apoint of concerns parents have, the Naval Royal Navy Royal Marines Welfare team contact for any query from serving Families Federation can advocate and the Children’s Education Advisory personnel. Te lephone: 0141 224 of their behalf.Contact the Welfare Service (CEAS) on 01980 618 244, as you 3600 or Freephone: 0800 085 3600. Te am on 023 9272 8777. will have to make aclaim to continue to receive CEA.

48 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Your questions answered

These pages are dedicated to some of the enquiries received by the NFF and the responses given. All Answered enquiries are dealt with in aconfidential manner and your details are not passed on to any organisation unless your permission is received or there is a safeguarding issue. Page 4details useful contact Q: Is access to NHS dentists covered by the numbers for support organisations. Armed Forces Covenant? We have just moved from Birmingham to Portsmouth and my wife can’t access aNHS dentist. She is pregnant and has bleeding gums. Q: Iaminvolved with HMS HEROES and would like A: Any family moving to make contact with the into anew area can tri-Service Youth Forum to find it difficult to find hopefully work in partnership adentist regardless with. of whether they are in the Armed Forces A: The tri-Service Youth Forum or not. However,if is agroup of young people aged aService family was 11-18, from families of the Armed under treatment or awaiting treatment and then put Forces who come together each to the bottom of the waiting list when they moved, year to present their thoughts then this would be considered adisadvantage under and views on being aService the Armed Forces Covenant. To find adentist child. Dan Richmond is the in your local area visit www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/ Naval Service lead for the MOD AboutNHSservices/dentists/Pages/find-an-NHS-dentist. tri-Service Youth Forum and aspx.Ifyou experience any difficulties in find adentist can be contacted on navypers- please do let the NFF know. [email protected].

Q: My father passed away last week and my husband is currently deployed. I’m wondering what his right with compassionate leave is?

A: There are specific criteria that are applied to compassionate leave, and in this case your best course of action is to ask directly for the support you need. Compassionate leave is normally granted in the event of the death of the parent of the serving person. In this case, however,where it is your father who has sadly passed away, compassionate leave is not a‘right’ as such, but whenever possible the Navy does try to act with consideration for the family’s needs. We would advise you to contact the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) who are open 24 hours aday on 01452 519 951, and explain the situation to them. Youwill need your husband’s Service Number.They will be able to advise you further.Doplease get in touch if there is anything further we can help you with.

Register your details for afree copy of Homeport to be delivered to your door –and you may get more than you bargained for! We will enter your details into adraw for £100 Sayshopping Vouchers, courtesy of Sodexo Defence. Sign Up to Receive To register your details you can apply on-line at www.nff.org. uk,telephone the office on 023 9265 4374, or e-mail Sarah at Homeport at [email protected]. Home and Yo u Sodexo Defence is committed to the wellbeing of all those in the Armed Forces Community and to their families, past Could Win£100 and present. Click on the ‘My Vouchers’ tab on the website www.sayshopping.co.uk to find out where you can spend your Sayshopping Vouchers vouchers.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 49 The RN &RMChildren's Fund is aNational Charity based in Portsmouth. We care for children of men and women who have served or are servinginthe Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Originally set up as an orphanage we now assist children with awiderange of needs and at times of family crisis. Applications can be made at any time. Menand womenofthe RoyalNavyand RoyalMarines Those seeking assistance can contact the office direct servetheir country,oftenattimes of danger.Established forananapapplicatplicationionformfororm.download the form from our website. in 1922, theRNBThelps non-commissionedSailors, Marines andtheir families (TheRNBTFamily) MoniquMoniqueeBBatemanateman OrOrDugLaurenHickineSAndmitSarah, Smith throughouttheir lives. 311 TwyfordAvenue Portsmouth P02 8RN Your donation will help us to help them. Telephone:023 92639534•Fax: 023 92677574 Email: [email protected] The Royal NavalBenevolent Trust, Castaway House, 311 TwyfordAvenue, PoRTsmouTH,Hampshire, Po2 8RN Web: www.rnrmchildrensfund.org.uk T: 02392690112 F: 02392660852 E: [email protected] RegisteredRegisteredCCharityharity No 10750111601825•Patron: Her Majesty The Queen

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Work has started on the first UK armed Forces Families’ Strategy from the Mod. Your views and feedback will be key as the plans develop The strategy is designed to provide Service families. seeks to support, with the intent to direction to officials who are The offer to Service families must be move towards an end state where responsible for policy development in both accessible and flexible in order families feel informed and engaged the areas that make up the ‘offer’to to meet the needs of the families it within the Service life package.

Partner Employment

family: Accommodation

vice Children’s Education and Childcare

ser Community Support

Specialist Support

Health and Wellbeing

Tr ansitioning

The touchstones of the work aims to provide: Resilience: working in partnership with stakeholders, Fairness: The commitment made in the Armed Forces supporting self-determination and independence. Covenant to remove disadvantage caused by Service life Forfurther information, visit: www.gov.uk/government/ Choice: giving families agreater choice to make informed decisions publications/uk-armed-forces-families-strategy or give Empowerment: providing the appropriate tools and your feedback directly to us at the NFF via: admin@NFF. information to assist in accessing the right support org.uk. Please title your e-mail with ‘Families Strategy’.

52 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Your Life olive oyl, The crazed ramblings of awife of aRoyal navy Wife Naval Sailor

Olive Oyl is apseudonym for aNaval wife who started ablog to express her thoughts on the day-to-day frustrations, general hilarity,chaos, sadness and happiness that goes hand-in-hand with being aNaval Wife. The other aim of the blog is to bring some reassurance to other Navy wives that they are not completely loopy,oritmight just serve as concrete evidence that she is the one round the bend, and everyother Navy wife is apillar of strength and sanity! ‘Olive Oyl’ is married to aLeading Hand, known as Popeye. They have ayoung daughter,affectionately called ‘Sweet Pea’, a young baby and aWestie.

Boring, Snoring Mummy versus ‘The Funninator’ routine has gone out of the window, daytime routine has gone out of the window, and so much has gone out of the I work hard at home to keep everything ticking over. I have window I may just get a door installed there instead. systems, I have routine, I even have flexibility built into the routine. Efficient? No. We’ve had a great weekend. I’ve loved having ‘The Fu nninator’ home to help with parenting. I’ve loved seeing Me and Sweetpea, we have fun. We have sand play, water him and Sweetpea together. I’ve loved feeling like one half play, music time, play groups, messy play, you name it we go of a whole again. I feel like every weekend is a holiday, to it. Such activities are on a loose weekly basis, special fun which is great, but makes my head spin! It takes me and days are planned in advance and carefully packed for the Sweetpea about a week to recover, by which time it’s the night before so there’s no forgotten sun cream, no lack of weekend again! It’s exhausting and exhilarating at the same spare clothes, no forgotten swimming costume disasters. time. In short I think I provide a stable, varied and fun week for On Sundays, after weekenders, we don’t have any clean her. clothes because I never did take that first load out of the Until Daddy comes home on a Friday. Of course. How can I washing machine on Saturday morning, and the house looks ever compete with ‘The Funninator’? like someone has confused it with a snow globe and picked it up and shaken it repeatedly. He usually comes home right in the middle of tea time, meaning that from the second he bounds into the room, “Thanks for a lovely weekend, I’m going to miss my girls” arms open, voice booming, Sweetpea will be so star struck says Popeye, with a big hug and kiss for us both. He hates that she will eat no more that evening. leaving us so I put on my best ‘big girl smile’ and wave him off and say something reassuring and positive. She will stay up late because I want them to have some time together. We sit on the floor in the chaos and look at each other. Then ‘Boring, Snoring’ Mummy starts They will get so wired off from playing together that she picking up the pieces again as may as well have had a whole tube of blue smarties. By the Sweetpea waves to the shut time I’ve put her to bed it’s Stupid O’clock and I’m doing front door “Daddy, Daddy, my very best impression of a walker from The Walking Dead. Daddy” she gurgles. So that’s the evening routine screwed. The next day Popeye “Daddy’s gone to sea, Daddy will suggest us all going on a day trip. An expensive, exciting, be back soon.” I reply and far away day trip, like to the zoo or aquarium or something, stick the washing on a repeat which is great. cycle. I will say yes because I want them to have special, magical Muchos love, memories of lovely days out together. Just give me 30 mins to get everything ready and so I rub porridge off the wall, Olive load the dishwasher and the washing machine, knowing we X will be out all day and stuff needs to get done.

Mid-domestic whirlwind, I see them cuddling from the kitchen and I feel a pang of jealousy. But he doesn’t get If you would like to much time with her and they need this bonding time. read more about So we go for our super mega ultra-fun day out. Naturally Olive Oyl visit her this ends in a HUGE tantrum from Sweetpea and a website http:// looooong nap in car on the way back home. Meaning another oliveoylnavywife. late night, and she still wakes up at 5am! com/ and you can By the time Popeye leaves on Sunday, me and Sweetpea reach her on Tw itter have no idea which way is up or what’s going on. Night time @OliveOylNW.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 53 Your Life | Joining the THINKING ABOUT THEIR FUTURE? Royal Navy APARENT AND GUARDIAN’S GUIDE THE TO CAREERS IN -AParent’s Perspective ROYAL NAVY AND ROYAL MARINES The days of lullabies, trips was good awareness among to the park and help with young recruits of the Royal Navy homework are over.Y. You and Royal Marines’ guidance have gone from being on issues such as bullying or asa supervisorupervisor of your harassment. In particular,parents child’s life to aas spectatorpectator mentioned Royal Navy Chaplains as your young person as providing invaluable support, takes their first steps whether or not the young person of independence. This has afaith. can be achallenging One mum said that young people transition for any generally get caught up in what parent, but what if they are doing and life with your young person their new ‘oppos’, and tend to has decided to join think about mum and dad when the Royal Navy or Royal something goes wrong.This can Marines? be misleading for parents who Back in the 1960s, recruits at may only hear about the more HMS RALEIGH were given a challenging stuff.Despite how it this column for serving families compulsory postcard to send may sometimes feel as aparent comes with alittle disclaimer home to their parents in their first of young people, you are very from the author.aparent to week of training,and were told influential, and your support and what to write! Nowadays parents ability to listen can have ahuge teenagers in aserving family, are much more likely to hear impact on their success. and aqualified teacher with the unvarnished reality of their Parents who have experienced abackground in delivering children’s experiences. service in the Armed Forces parenting and behaviour support We’ve been talking with parents themselves said that they felt this in school and community about their experiences of their was ahuge advantage to them settings, she is not an ‘expert’ grown up children joining the in helping them to feel confident on anyone’s family,including Naval service. They have told and happy about what their young people were doing.One her own. Whilst we don’t offer us about some of the things that have helped them during father said that he felt confident unsolicited advice at the nFF, the early days of training and that if he approached the Navy this column is offered in the moving on to first assignments. about any concerns that he would spirit of us all being in the same be taken seriously.Hefelt it Acommon thread in the was important that parents who ‘boat/ship/call-it-what-you-like’, feedback we received from where we can share some of the had not served in the Armed parents was that they felt Forces themselves realised that joys and challenges of life for confident that their ‘children’ people will talk to you and Royal navy and Royal Marines were being well looked after help you. Several parents said families, and hopefully find some and supported by the Service. it was helpful to ‘buddy up’ Families felt that their young strategies that help us. with someone who has more people knew where to get help experience of Naval life, and that and support, and that they had appropriate social media groups access to people who would could be helpful in reducing listen to any concerns. There anxiety for parents.

54 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Your Life

Here are some of the top tips you shared with us: They are not always easy to find as most are ‘secret’, so you need to find someone in real life who can • ‘Simple really; don’t worry about them; they are being introduce you. Some of the parents we spoke to better looked after than we could ever dream’ had become friends with other parents of serving • Get them agood iron and agood ironing board! people, and found this very helpful • Expect phone calls with tears and asking to come home • If your young person is in arelationship with along- from basic training.Itprobably won’t happen but be term partner,accept that they may make that prepared so that you can look after your own feelings relationship apriority when they have time off,and and be supportive. Talk beforehand about the fact that their time with you may need to take aback that it will be tough and about how they can get seat. This can be tough for any parent, but training} support if they need it. Trytofoster determination and deployment can result in time to invest in to stay for the basic training at least. Agree that this relationships being in short supply.Ashard as it may can be the finishing point if they want it to be, but be, your young person may have anew centre of encourage them not to give up half way through gravity in their life. Awise parent will foster agood relationship with their • At times supporting aserving person can feel like adult child’s partner,and seek to support them through abit ofa one-way street (like many areas of being a times of separation in an appropriate way parent!). Care packages and letters are appreciated, although letters are not always reciprocated • Equip yourself with information. Find out about what is involved. Youcan download ‘A Parent and Guardian’s • If you don’t hear from your young person, assume the Guide to Careers in the RoyalNavyand Royal Marines’ best and not the worst. If anything serious does from the RN website that will answer many of your happen, you will get to hear about it. No news is questions. usually good news Information packs are given out at new entry training • Do your best to boost them up and be positive establishments, but if these don’t reach you as aparent you can find all the information you need via the Royal • Make contact with other parents in the same situation. Navy website or from us at the Naval Families There are lots of groups and support networks online. Federation. The Royal Navy website has aforum and there is aRoyal Navy Family and Community Facebook page. There are also numerous unofficial groups Thank you to all the parents who took the time to speak and networks that you can access via social media. with our team for this article. If you would like to give any Please be careful to avoid posting information about feedback about your experiences of being the parent of a operations or ships’ movements, use your privacy serving person, please do get in touch with us. settings to limit access to your profile, and don’t identify yourself as aService person’s family member on your public photos and details. Parents have told us that Facebook groups have been incredibly helpful.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 55 Your Life |

Helping Rn and RM Families in

Difficult Times by deanne thomas, chief Executive officer

The Sailors Children’s Society helps normal hard-working at our office base in Hull. families when they are struck by disaster.This could be We can help families from Royal Navy and Royal Marines bereavement, diagnosis of alife-changing illness or backgrounds along with Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleet the breakdown of amarriage. We are here to provide also. We have astrong community on Facebook via our support through those difficult times until afamily is once own page and organise social events locally,particularly again strong enough to move forwards independently. in Portsmouth and Plymouth, so you are never alone. We have given help over anumber of years that has If you do need help or know someone who is struggling, included small financial grants, caravan holidays, and please pass on our contact details as: computers for children’s homework, along with emotional support as appropriate. We have two Family Support Sailors Children’s Society,visit www.sailorschildren.org.uk/ Officers, based in Portsmouth and Plymouth, who are on our-work.asp telephone 01482 342 331, e-mail: info@ hand to visit families in their own homes and who have a sailorschildren.org.uk and we shall do our very best to wealth of experience, along with ateam on the telephone help you. 4Children: Providing specialist supportfor Service families

During our Regional Liaison Te am visits they came across that Service families in the area can easily access the help they the 4Children charity so we asked Peter Rogers, Director of need. To gether with our partners in Plymouth, we are planning a Operations and Quality,for more details on what they do. consultation event with military families in the spring, whereby 4Children is anational charity that delivers childcare, family local organisations can discuss gaps in support, consider possible support and youth services across more than 150 settings solutions and explore potential funding opportunities. throughout the UK. Our services provide vital help to families, In addition to our targeted work through our children’s centres, from light touch support for new parents to more intensive since 2010 4Children has been working with the RAF Benevolent interventions for families with complexneeds. Fund and RAF Community Development Officers to provide a Over recent years, 4Children has worked in partnership with a programme of youth support across every main RAF station in the variety of military organisations and charities to provide direct UK -many of which also support families from Naval and Army support to Service families. As such, we’ve developed areal insight families. Formore information about 4Children and our work with into the particular challenges they face. Our children’s centres in Service families, visit www.4Children.org.uk. Plymouth support Service families with children aged 0-5, before school support begins. We provide the strategic lead for military Editor’s Note: The 4Children charity is holding afamily fun day families across Plymouth, working with the local authority and for Service families on 18 May between 10am and 2pm at Storehouse other partners (including the Naval Families Federation) to ensure Creek, Plymouth.

56 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Your Life

Louise Fetigan, Founder of Little Tr ooper

Little troopers

In november 2015 the charity ‘My daddy is a Soldier adventures’ relaunched as little troopers. The charity was originally founded in 2011 and has grown to become awell known source of support to children who regularly have serving parents away from home, a community where all Forces children belong,regardless of their home situation. In December 2014 Louise Fetigan, the founder of the charity,collected the Support to the Armed Forces Military Award. This award bought great recognition and • Parents section on the website that has lots of advice awareness was raised of the challenges children of serving and also printable certificates to give to children who personnel face on adaily basis. Many enquiries were have been brave through aseparation period received from Royal Navy and RAF families requesting the • Birthday Scheme; sign up your Little Troopers to receive expansion of support to include all three Services, adream apersonalised card and badge on their birthday that Louise always wanted to fulfil. • Little Troopers Treasures is also an initiative from the Louise says “I always wanted the charity to be tri-Service charity providing various tools to families to stay but you have to start somewhere and Iamglad to have connected even though separated by miles. had four years to get established. Inow feel confident expanding the charity to include Royal Naval and RAF Families can also take advantage of the 2016 Summer families. It’s the right progression and Iamsoexcited we Adventure Camp, taking place between the 17th and now support all Little Troopers of Regular and Reserve 19th June for all the family in Pirbright in Surrey,with forces.” various outdoor activities and camping.I. Itt’’ssaw a weekendeekend to make memories and reconnect if separation has been Little TTrroopersoopers provides fundamental resources to ease experienced. Tickets are £12.50 per person and tickets and aid forced separation periods between serving can be booked via the website. personnel and child utilising: Louise says, “While there isn’t the obvious fear associated • Separation Packs with ada deploymenteployment to aaw warzonearzone at the moment, the • Send aHug kits repeated time apart from the family because of courses, exercises and other commitments still has many effects • Awhole host of downloadable both on the children and their parents. Our aim is to be activities from the website there to provide vital support to these families before www.littletroopers.net they reach aca crisisrisis point.”

Spring 2016 | Homeport 57 Your Life |

Membersofthe Military Wives Choir go to New Yo rk by Mechelle cooney– Events coordinator for Members of MWc new York

The majority of you will be aware of the indeed for so many other wonderful composed anew piece that he has Military Wives Choir and how it began in charities, all through song. dedicated to the Military Wives Choirs. 2011. Youmay also be aware of how it Youmeet some amazing people who ‘This Song Of Mine’ will be premièred in has had such apositive effect on the lives all try so hard to change this world or Carnegie Hall, New York in May and Paul of many women. someone’s life through raising charitable will be conducting the choir. Myself and lots of other women are funds and awareness for these charities. We have already had our first joint sharing so many exciting and rewarding Ihave met, and continue to meet, people rehearsal, girls travelled from all over memories whilst being in this unique choir. who inspire me to give back alittle. There the country,Northern Ireland, Inverness Very often Ihear potential new members are times when we attend something extra and Plymouth, to name but afew.There say ‘but Icannot sing’! Actually are 26 choirs joining us in total. whether you can or cannot sing is It was wonderful seeing all the irrelevant. It is about the support girls smiling and brimming with you find for yourself from the excitement. The majority of the choir,that’s what’s important. ladies had never met before, We come along to rehearsals, but what aday; determination, normally after avery busy week dedication and commitment to whether it’s work, family,orthe sing and learn all the new music. usual demands of being aMilitary It truly was an outstanding start wife. Youcan walk in the door to our adventure. There was so and leave all your worries on the much enjoyment by all and this doorstep for afew hours, this time was reflected in the smiles and is about you! Youcan switch off from the ‘normal’ week and meet up with special but with all of our performances laughter and the sheer camaraderie like-minded ladies who know exactly how we make some wonderful memories. shown by all. you feel and/or are coping. Iamvery excited to announce that We are now busy sharing our page (link We have abreak half way through the around 130 members of the Military below) and asking for any help or support. rehearsal where we have coffee and Wives Choirs from far and wide are If you would like any more often cake (we have some amazing currently invited to sing on the prestigious information on our trip please contact bakers) ladies often discuss any problems, stage of Carnegie Hall in New York on Plymouth MWC Events Coordinator difficulties or indeed achievements and the 27th May 2016. Mechelle by e-mailing plymouth@ good news stories during this time. We are absolutely delighted to be militarywiveschoirs.org.Check out the We all get so much out of the choir and working again with Professor Paul Mealor, Facebook page https://www.facebook. in the interim we are involved in raising composer of our 2011 Christmas No.1 com/Members-of-MWC-go-to-New- awareness and funds for our charity or single ‘Wherever YouAre’. Paul has York-2016-199641830385589/?fref=ts

58 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Your Life Spousal Employment

Modernfamilies may require the need for more than one income. this can bring tough lifestyle choices for Royal navy/ Royal Marines families. do you follow your loved one and move as afamily around the country or overseas, even though it may affect your own career and supportlinks; or do you live in your own home to enable you to put down roots and have astable career,even though it means you may not see as much of your loved one and may need aca careerareer that will fit around childcare? The annual Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey enables the Ministry of Defence to listen to the concerns of military personnel and their husbands, wives and children. The latest survey showed that one of the key worries for Service personnel was being unhappy with the effect of military life on their partner’s Supporting the UnsungHero career. Hundreds of Armed Forces families are launching small businesses thanks to aprogramme Over the past year,MOD aimed at supporting Service personnel. has been working hard in Launched in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton in 2013, the ‘Dependants’ partnership with some of Business Start-Up Programme’ has been developed specifically for Armed Forces families to Britain’s biggest companies, provide them with the transferable skills and support required to start and maintain abusiness including HSBC, to address this. that will not be restricted to ageographical area, allowing families to become more financially We have pulled together stable and break the cycle of being unable to work. details on just some of the The 10 month business training and mentoring support programme is available to the organisations that support Dependants’ of Armed Forces personnel, Veterans and Reservists from all three services at no Armed Forces spouses and cost, regardless of location, as it is funded by the Armed Forces Covenant (LIBOR) Fund and the older dependants regarding HSBC. their careers for your Formore information on this free business start-up course and mentoring programme for Service information, should you Dependants, run by experienced and knowledgeable business advisors, visit www.wlv.ac.uk/ need it. about-us and search for ‘Dependants Business Start-Up Programme’.

Lifeworks for Fa milies – Employment Support for

Military Spouses and Partners that it right for them, that they will enjoy and that they will Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) Lifeworks for Families succeed in. now has adedicated website, full of information, advice and Visit www.rblilifeworksfamilies.co.uk http://www. details of how spouses and partners of serving,orrecently rblilifeworksfamilies.co.uk/ to find out how the Lifeworks discharged, military personnel (including Reservists) can get Families programme can help you or someone you know FREE employment advice. that needs that extra lift to get onto the employment ladder. Lifeworks Families aims to give military spouses and partners RBLE Lifeworks is asimilar scheme, designed to help Service the tools they need to get ajob; not just any job but one Veterans get into employment.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 59 Your Life |

Service National Careers and impartial is afree, independent with any aspect Careers Service everyone to help The National service open to Government funded planning. job choice and path, looking of career or change career and looking to learn more you are in ajob art-time job or is Whether want to find ap area, the service back into work, options in your to get or employment about the training three ways: for you. is delivered in England, the service Available throughout Service website aSkills Check, ational Careers .uk to carry out • Visit theN you, use the that might suit http://nationalcareersservice.direct.govon different careers as the Lifelong at Job Profiles tools, such or look career management e-mail the service builder or other Youcan also CV and much more. Account the website Freephone Learning via webchat from the phone, to an adviser support you over area advisers chat that can either with your local across service or put you in touch etwork of advisers the national telephone days aweek), There is an • Ring –10pm, seven receipt of benefits). out of Jobcentres, 100 900 (8am 19+ or 18 in typically working with 0800 to adults supportive way; To get in contact (this is only available afriendly and community centres. Face to Face advice in libraries and • Meet individual, tailored venues like to provide and community the country such as colleges providers, number. education ring the national your local advisers

The Prince’s TTrrustust The Prince’s Trust offers arange of courses to equip young people with the skills, tools and confidence they need to secure the job they want or to start their own business. With courses available across the UK,you can find support wherever you are based. If you are aged 16-25 years old, unemployed, low on confidence or lacking basic employment skills, the ‘Team’programme is for you, offering work experience, qualifications, practical skills, community projects and aresidential week, helping you take the next step towards employment. If you’ve got askill or idea you’d like to turn into abusiness, are aged 18-30, living in the UK,and unemployed or working fewer than 16 hours Enterprising Office – aweek, then the ‘Explore Enterprise’ course will give you an overview of Employing the talents of military basic business skills. If you decide self-employment isn’t for you, they offer dependents and ex-Service personnel support to explore other options. The idea for Enterprising Office came Forthose looking for volunteering opportunities, many Trust programmes from military spouses that found that they are supported by members of the Armed Forces or those with relevant faced many barriers to finding fulfilling experience. employment because of their often Formore information on programmes or volunteering,visit mobile lifestyle. www.princes-trust.org.uk. There are alot of people within the wider UK military community that are very talented but need access to flexible employment. Small and new businesses often need extra skills to grow but can’t afford to take on employees. Enterprising Office simply plugs the two together! Through regular training,the ability to work from home with flexible hours, staff are able to make the difficult balance between work, family and military life work for them. Formore information, visit www. enterprisingoffice.co.uk

60 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Your Life

Sup porting Militar yStart-upBusi Five hundred nesses specialist new businesses planning have been launched and advisory by the UK Since service. ’s military community its launch in ,assisted facilitating July 2013, X-forces by a more than five has nurtured Start Up Loans million pounds and guided Service Company. in seed funding -leavers ,asanofficial and family members, Twoofthe latest partner of Newcastle, businesses to the Government started launch are cafes ’s ‘Big by serving Royal at either Suze’, the business Marine Johnny end of England. events. offers hand-roasted and his Regular Jo’s Formore details, coffee partner Jo. From is amobile cafe visit www.regularjos.com bean blends, their lovingly operating in The Craftbox served fresh converted trailer Café, in the city centre ,nicknamed spouse with branches and at community whose husband in Helston and blend of is an Aircraft Penzance in art studio and Engineer at Cornwall, was children coffee shop, RNAS Culdrose. started by April and adults within offering arange The Craftbox Claire, am homemade amodern of crafts designed concept is ilitary cakes.Visit www.thecraftboxhelston.comcafe serving barista for both a find out more. coffee and to X-Fo rces, asocial enterprise, of complete is the UK business support ’s only provider veterans, military to Service-leavers, spouses, reservists Visit www.x-forces.com and cadets. for more information.

Recruit for Spouses (RFS) was created to strengthen the employment opportunities for the wives and partners of our Armed Forces. To date, the business has helped over 1,600 tri-Service military wives and partners with help in finding valuable, rewarding employment. The team offers free CV advice borne from an understanding of the challenges that face amilitary spouse looking for work. RFS works very closely with employers on creating the right opportunities where the spouse can be supported into and throughout their employment. There is apopular online CV clinic on Facebook, which is run by Navy wife Jo Murchie every Friday,and is agreat way to ask questions in aclosed group situation. Their pilot mentoring programme to equip military spouses with IT skills is proving really popular and is about to go live. If you would like more information please register at www.recruitforspouses.co.uk

Spring 2016 | Homeport 61 HMS DIAMOND launched the nation weekend ’s Your Life | of Jubilee celebrations. 1st Picture: June 2012 LA(Phot) Gary Weatherston Hold Your own patron’s Lunch to Celebrate HM The Queen’s 90th birthday by clare Scherer, assistant director, Royal navy Royal Marines children’s Fund

The Patron’s Lunch is a celebration to commemorate the 90th birthday of HM The Queen and her reign as the longest serving Monarch. The aim is to celebrate Her Majesty’s patronage of over 300 charities. We are incredibly proud to have had Her Majesty as our Patron since 1945, which is an impressive 71 years. The Palace will be holding a huge street party in The Mall on Sunday 12th June (ticketed attendance only but St James’s can feature you on the RNRM Children’s fund Park will be screening the event and you can take websites and Facebook pages. your own picnics there) and we want to encourage Some Ideas to Get YouStarted everyone to celebrate this momentous year by holding their own celebrations and street parties. • Put the FUN into FUNDRAISING – ask us for one of our fundraising packs to give you some The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s ideas and then raise money through Virgin Fund (RNRMCF) has joined together with the Royal Money Giving – it is really easy Navy Officer’s Charity (RNOC) and the Association of Royal Navy Officers (ARNO), the Royal Naval • Hold a raffle on the day and raise money for Association (RNA) and the Royal Marines the RNRM Children’s Fund/RNOC/ARNO/ Association (RMA) and we all want you to join us RNA/RMA in celebrating. • Get the children to enter the RNRMCF’s Art We want you to organise your own ‘Patron’s Lunch’ Competition – the theme this year is ‘The during 2016 wherever you are. Having aPa Paatrontron’s QQueenueen’s Birthday Picnic’ and it is free to Lunch Party to help celebrate The Queen’s 90th enter for children up to the age of 16. The Birthday is easier than you think and it will definitely closing date is the 3rd June 2016 be worth it. APatron’s Lunch Party means either • Why not dress up –make it colourful or choose one or two small streets, acommunity centre or atheme for fancy dress community area or asuitable venue where you can all gather together to celebrate The Patron’s Lunch. • Have aquiz about your ‘street’ Whether it is astreet party,apicnic on the deck of • Organise games and activities. the ship, at the base, in your community centre or your own back garden. However and wherever you We can help provide themed bunting or flags hold your Patron’s Lunch we want you to have a and even aPatron’s Lunch teddy bear as araffle great time –and then tell us all about it! Send in your prize. Contact the RNRM Children’s Fund to find photos and stories of your way of celebrating so we out more, visit www.rnrmchildrensfund.org.uk or e-mail [email protected].

62 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Your Life ch llypoWDer chalets in french alps offer for rn/rm families Chilly Powder is acluster of family-owned chalets nestled in the de-stress, detox or re-energise. Adegree qualified Holistic hamlet of Prodains in the French ski resort of Morzine –Avoriaz. and Beauty therapist is available to ease aches and Based in the heart of Portes du Soleil, Chilly Powder offers atrue pains through avariety of massage techniques and can mountainside location, with ahigh speed gondola to Avoriaz also perform aselection of beauty treatments including located near the main hotel entrance. manicures, pedicures and facials to ensure guests feel truly pampered. In the summer time, the Alps have plenty to offer with Morzine becoming world famous for cross-country,free- Within the main hotel, ‘A uCoin Du Feu’ (meaning by the ride and downhill cycling.The area’s interlinked lift system fireside), rooms are individually themed and guests can allows mountain bikers easy access to the top of the book to stay in The Garden Room, ToyRoom, English mountain with plenty of routes to enjoy across avariety of Room, Safari Suite or Music room amongst many others. levels. The breathtaking scenery can also be appreciated Smaller catered chalets ‘Des Amis’ (sleeping up to 9) and on foot as well, with hundreds of hiking trails of varying ‘Plan Des Rochers’ (sleeping up to 14) are just afew steps difficulty covering the mountain too. away from the main hotel or there are the self-catered options in ‘Chalet Trembles’ (sleeping up to 16) or ‘Chalet The area also offers access to awide range of other L’ Ancetre’ (sleeping up to 9). adrenaline filled sports and activities, including rock climbing,white water rafting,trail running,hydro Over the years, Chilly Powder has become renowned for speeding,,g golfingolfing,,p paraglidingaragliding,,z zipip-lining and much more. its exquisite food and bespoke service, with their head chef creating all menus using fresh and local produce, aided The four star chalet business, rated number one on Trip by owner Francesca who is a Cordon Bleu chef. Francesca Advisor in the region, was founded by British couple Paul says: “We love to provide our guests with a wow factor and Francesca Eyre who say: “We built Chilly Powder from that excites them and is completely different to other ski/ the ground up almost 20 years ago now. It is so much chalet companies. We cater for all tastes and provide more than just a hotel, it’s also our family home, and restaurant quality meals. Our menu is one of the main we put our hearts and souls into creating a memorable, reasons why our guests come back year after year.” unrivalled experience for every single one of our guests”. For more information on Chilly Powder visit www. Being a family-run business means the couple have chillypowder.com or call 020 7289 6958 thought of every little detail to accommodate even the youngest of guests at the chalet. Each summer Chilly Chilly Powder are offering amember of the Royal Navy Powder’s fully qualified nannies care for children as young and Royal Marines, plus one guest, afour-night summer as 3-months old, allowing parents to enjoy their time in stay in Morzine, French Alps, half-board, including wine the mountains knowing their children are well cared for with the five course accommodation. Turn to page 70 and entertained in their in-house crèche. for more details. Chilly Powder also boasts a spa treatment room offering an impressive range of treatments to relax and unwind,

Spring 2016 | Homeport 63 Your Life |

Is it time fora relationshipMOT?

our relationships are important. Good relationships with partners, family members, children, friends and others are key to our personal happiness and wellbeing. at the nFF we are privileged to meet many amazing people who give fantastic supporttotheir serving partners and spouses. the commitment and sheer tenacity of partners at home is inspiring, and enables many serving sailors and Royal Marines to meet the demands of their jobs.

Maintaining astrong relationship with apartner over the Arecent study by King’s College London about relationship long-term is challenging for any couple. We all come to difficulties among UK military personnel revealed that relationships with different expectations and experiences, spouses who coped well with separation and deployment different ways of dealing with disagreements and different might be at increased risk of relationship difficulties arising ways of expressing our feelings (or not!). when their partner returns home post-deployment. Those Deployment, training,weekending and moving are all who had been separated by deployment for periods features of the RNRM lifestyle and these add changes to exceeding 13 months in 3years were at greater risk the dynamics of our relationships that can, at times, place of relationship difficulties, precisely because the non- additional stress on us. Even in the strongest relationships serving partners were so good at adapting to their new there are times of friction and difficulties in communicating. independent roles and additional responsibilities! This just goes to illustrate the fact that relationship difficulties It is surprising then to think that forming good personal should not be regarded as a‘weakness’ or personal relationships is still widely held to be aprivate matter in failing,but that they are anormal part of the deployment the UK today.People often avoid talking about relationship cycle for many awesome, well-matched couples. Over the difficulties, perhaps through fear of this signifying failure course of along-term relationship everyone will experience or disloyalty,orperhaps thinking things will resolve changes and challenges –that’s guaranteed –and these themselves. People often expect to have to deal with any do not necessarily mean that anyone is at fault or that the issues themselves without accessing help. Not surprisingly, relationship is flawed. they get stuck in old patterns of behaviour and ways of doing things that don’t result in the changes that are UK research indicates that most people who seek needed for relationships to thrive and move forward. relationship support believe that they left it too late. We do Whereas in other areas of our lives we might seek not tend to inform ourselves about how we can invest in guidance and advice from others -for example we might relationships or seek sources of help until problems have need amechanic to fix the car or ask afitness instructor emerged. It is, however,possible to learn new ways to to help us to put together an exercise programme -we improve relationships and there are resources available to don’t readily do so when it comes to our relationships. It’s help, even before issues arise. It doesn’t have to be bad illogical, when you think about it, yet we still find ourselves to be better,and couples who equip themselves with the muddling through when learning afew new skills might skills they need are better placed to manage the inevitable really help us to navigate the choppy waters. challenges that life brings.

64 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Your Life

We asked partners and spouses about their needs for Relate’s work also extends beyond relationship counselling relationship support, and as aresult of evidence you and an initial seven sessions of sex therapy,family provided, we were able to approach the RNRMC for counselling or children and young people’s counselling funding to provide counselling through Relate. The is also available to personnel and their families. Anyone bid was successful and the RNRMC has embraced the wanting to book asession can call the dedicated phone opportunity to support this venture for its beneficiaries line: 01302 380 279. In addition there is also the option for free. to have an online chat with atrained counsellor using Relate’s Live Chat facility. As the UK’s leading relationships charity,Relate provides impartial and non-judgmental support for people of all ages, Relate’s services are completely confidential. This means at all stages of couple, family and social relationships. If you’re that no one in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines will be facing difficulties, looking to strengthen your relationships, or told that you have accessed these services unless there wanting help thinking things through, Relate is there for you. are safeguarding issues. Youwill need to provide yours As of now,both serving and former Royal Navy and Royal or your partner’s service number to receive the service, Marines personnel and their families have access to arange but this is simply to confirm eligibility.Wehope that these of counselling services provided by Relate. Whether you’re free counselling services through Relate will offer an married, living together,inasame-sex relationship, separated, opportunity to talk through any tensions and findways to divorced or single, they can help. stay connected as acouple or family during periods of The services on offer include an initial seven sessions of separation. relationship counselling.Royal Navy and Royal Marines Dedicated phone line: 01302 380279 families are geographically dispersed across the UK and Start aLive Chat with acounsellor: overseas. To ensure access, Relate’s services are available by http://www.relate.org.uk/royal-navy-and-royal-marines- telephone, by webcam or face-to-face, whatever suits you counselling best.

Families ContinuousAttitudeSurvey

by Paul cox, cnPS (commodore naval Personnel Strategy) Research

and whilst some policies take time to adjust here are just some of the areas where the FAMCAS has had an impact: •With the support of Dept. of Health the key principle of ‘no disadvantage’ is now in the NHS constitution •40projects have been funded from a£20 million budget to improve childcare support for Service families •£20 million has been allocated to Service Pupil Premium payments to support the needs of 69,000 Service pupils attending state schools in England •Over 5,000 Service personnel have benefitted from Forces Help to Buy Scheme to the value of £75 million. Have you ever wondered what happens once you If you have asurvey and wonder whether you should take complete the Families Continuous Attitude Survey the time to complete it, the answer is: ‘yes please’ it does (FAMCAS) questionnaire? give the evidence needed to help make changes.

There have been 9,500 surveys sent out this year to the The FAMCAS is also being used by MOD to help families of Naval personnel, with the closing date for develop its ‘UK Armed Forces Families Strategy’ returns of 6th May 2016. see page 52.

The views and feedback from this annual data collection Forfurther details please contact Paul Cox, can and does make adifference. The information e-mail: [email protected] collected is used by decision makers and policy shapers, or telephone: 023 9262 5496.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 65 Finance | new Pay System

The new pay system comes into force in April this year. We asked Lieutenant Commander Anthony Richards from CNPS Pay, Pensions &A& Allowancesllowances what this will mean for serving personnel. From 1st April 2016 ana newew pay system, endorsed by the Armed Forces PayRy Revieweview Body and Service Chiefs, will be introduced to the Armed Forces as part of PayRy Reform;eform; this is the first major change to the pay system for 15 years. All Regular and Reserve personnel up to Commodore RN/Brigadier RM will be affected with the exception of those on bespoke pay spines that are not rank specific, such as Medical/Dental Officers, Chaplains or Officers who have been commissioned from the ranks (Senior Upper Yardmen). There will also be minimal impact to pay spines that are rank-related, such as Mine Clearance Divers, Nurses, Special Forces, MPGS. This new system will rectify many of the dissatisfactions with the current Pay2000 (P2K) pay model, such as:

Extract from the armed FFoorcesrces PPaayyR ReforeformmE Explainedxplained booklet

66 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Finance OverviewofTransition

Pay2000 NEM £ GO-LIVE 1Apr 16

Pay2000 greaterthan NEM -Pay Rate Sustained Pay2000 paylevel

PayProtection } on transition NEM Increment NEM Increment

NEM Increment

} Gain on transition Pay2000 paylevel Pay2000 less than NEM -Rise to NEM PayRate Time

TRANSITION •flip-flop: when individuals move represents 90% of the basic pay budget. Transition is simply the act of moving between high/low pay bands on The remaining 10% makes up the pay people’s pay onto the NEM pay spines – promotion difference within the Supplements; it’s the 3-year period where people are X-Factor at 14.5% is included within •overtake: where individuals overtake safeguarded from taking apay drop, so: core and supplement pay and remains others within the same trade who unaffected. Supplement placements will •Ifsomeone moves to aNEM pay level were promoted earlier or have more be reviewed every 5years. that is lower than their current P2K level experience in the same rank they will sit at an appropriate pay rate As the Royal Navy is a‘bottom •overlap: where individuals on the until the NEM pay scales ‘catch up’with fed organisation’, personnel join upper Increment Level for their rank them (this will be figured out as aSpecially predominantly as aMidshipman or Able might have the same, or greater,level of Determined Rate of Pay), or in other words Rate and promote through the ranks, pay than acolleague in the same trade ‘Stand Still’ Increment Levels (ILs) have been retained in the next higher rank. •Ifsomeone moves to aNEM pay level with the only change being that Service that is higher,they will jump up to the new It also increases pay differential across Personnel (SP) will remain at the lower level then work their way up the Increment the Services with amove from 2pay level for 2years to acknowledge they Levels annually as normal. bands (Higher and Lower) to 4pay are new in rank. This is still agood pay Supplements (Supp 1, 2, 3and 4). structure when compared to changes One of the key points of transition is within other Public Sector pay structures that no-one will take apay cut on 1st SuPPleMenTS and remains the best outcome for the April 2016; with pay protection being The new 4Supplement model is simpler Armed Forces career structure model. aminimum of 3years. This will be and more transparent and trades are reviewed after 1year (April 2017) to Service Personnel are advised to check placed into one of the Supplements based consider if an extension is required. All their own personal circumstances to on aWhole Trade Score (WTS) –Royal personnel will receive the annual pay assess the changes. There is aguide to Navy Trade Supplement Placements award on 1st April under NEM with pay assistpersonnelintheNEMBooklet,which are shown. The WTS is calculated from protection allowing personnel to remain also includes Indicative PayRates and a the Job Evaluation (JE) scores for each on the Increment Level they transition to. flow diagram for personnel to complete rank at each trade. JE has been used More information can be found in to check their own circumstances; this to inform Armed Forces pay since 1970 DIB01-16, GALAXY 03/16, the NEM flow diagram will also confirm if you and mirrors aprocess used in civilian Handbook and RN PPA. Alternatively, ‘Stand Still’ on transition or continue to pay systems –effectively it scores a documentation can be found either move up the Increment Levels. whole trade (or branch/specialisation) on the GOV. UK website www.gov.uk/ on anumber of factors that then allows Editor’s Note: To find out all the benefits government/publications/armed-forces- each trade to be ranked alongside one RN/RM serving personnel can receive pay-reform-explained,orthrough the another.Core Pay, which is based on rank as part of their package, turn to pages Defence Gateway. alone, is the same for all personnel and 26 &27and read My Navy –The Offer.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 67 Finance | An Advice update from Sail

SaIl (Seafarers’ advice and Information line) is the FREE citizens advice service just for seafarers and their families including Royal Marines and Royal navy.they can be contacted by phone or e-mail and provide specialist advice on benefits, debt, housing, consumer issues, immigration, Domestic Abuse family-related issues and much more for free. We asked Miles Guidanceand Support cowley,Manager,SaIl for the latest news for Rn/RM families. forthe Armed Forces Community Consumer debt at record high Consumer borrowing on credit cards and overdrafts is New law on Domestic Abuse growing at the fastest rate in almost 10 years, figures from Anew law targetingpeople who abuse their the Bank of England showed. spouses, partners or family members has come Many debt advice charities highlighted the possibility of into force. Punishment of up to five years in interest rate rises this year and aslowing economy.Their prison is possible. concern is that more households will be unable to cope Under this new ‘coercivecontrol offense’, with debt repayments. abuse does not have to be physical violence. There are awide range of organisations offering free debt Instead the focus is on repeated controlling advice. So NEVER pay for debt advice. behaviour. What does this mean? The Home Office has Naval families provided some examples of what this might can contact the mean in practice: Seafarers’ Advice and Information Line •Isolating aperson from friends and family (SAIL) for free debt •Monitoring aperson’s Facebook, Twitter and advice. Instagram Alternatively, •Depriving aperson of enough money National Debtline, •Repeatedly telling aperson that they are Stepchange, Payplan worthless or your local Citizens •Taking control of aperson’s life Advice Bureau offer •Forcing aperson into acriminal activity free advice. •Threatening to reveal private information about aperson. Changes to the State This law only refers to behaviour between the Retirement Pension abuser and victim when they are ‘personally Foranyone retiring after April this connected’, for example in arelationship or year,there will be anew State living with afamily member. Retirement Pension. It’s designed to If you are affected by Domestic Abuse and be simpler to understand than the would like more information and find out current one. where you can seek help and support, visit Formost people the level of the new https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ State Retirement Pension will be based on the number of years of domestic-abuse-guidance-and-support-for-the- National Insurance contributions. You’ll get afull pension if you have armed-forces-community. at least 35 years worth of contributions. It’s quite asimple process to check your National Insurance Contributions Record. Youcan do it either by calling HM Revenue Seafarers’ Advice and Information Line (SAIL) and Customs on 0300 200 3500 (weekdays from 8am to 5pm) or To get advice on any of these changes just contact on the Government website (www.gov.uk)bysearching for ‘Check SAIL by calling 08457 413 318 or 020 3597 your National Insurance record’. 1580 between 10am and 4pm on weekdays, or If you do not have enough contributions when you’re near e-mail [email protected]. Visit their website retirement, you may be given the chance to make voluntary http://sailine.org.uk/ for more information. payments to make up National Insurance years. 68 Homeport |Spring 2016 SERV AL ICE V B A E N N Women’s Royal Naval Service L E A V

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T T W W W 70 Years of Trust Supporting An Illustrated History of the Women’s Royal Naval Service Benevolent Trust seafarersin need and theirfamilies

£10.00 To findout aboutour work Plus postage &packaging or to make adonationvisit

Regcharity 206529 www.seafarers.uk 7070 YeYeararssoofTf Trustrust --OOrdrder FoFormrm PLPLEAEASESE USU EBLOCK CAPITALS MMrr/M/Mrsrs/M/Misisss//MsMs/Other:/Other: ...... NaNameme:.: ...... phone020 7932 0000 or

TeTelnl no:o: ...... EmEmaiail:l: ...... [email protected]

Address: ...... P. Postcode: ......

Pleasesend me copies of thebookk @£@ £1010 eaeachch =£= £ ......

Postage andpacking @£3each=£...... TTotalotal £.£...... (Chequeesms ade payableto: WRNS BT) For multiple and overseasorders please contactthe Trustfor postage pricesbefore youplace your order on telephone: 023 9265 5301.

Payment canbemadeonline forthe credit of theWomen’s RoyalNaval ServiceBenevolent Trust at NatWest PortsmouthSort Code 560064Account Number 83836594. Please ensure your name is included as areference forthe payment and that yousend acopyofthisorder formto the Trust, detailing thedateofthe payment by email or to the addressbelow.Email: [email protected] Seafarers UK (King George’s Fund for Sailors) is a Registered Charity, no. 226446 in England Data Protection - TheWRNSBTisregistered underthe Data protection Act1998, registration no.Z7113377. Information on theuse of personal data by theWRNSBTisavailable fromthe addressshown above. and Wales, incorporated under Royal Charter. Registered in Scotland, no. SC038191

home & SHOULDER 20% off contents TO SHOULDER We look after our own-soifyou’re in the military, we’ll beat your renewalquoteby20%.

At the MilitaryMutual we understand the needs of militarypersonnel. That’s whyour home and contents coverincludes kit cover, emergency home assistance and family legal protection as standard, and you’ll neverbecharged admin fees forany changes.

Better yet, when youmove to The MilitaryMutual we’ll beat your renewalquoteby20%. To find out morecall FREE on 0800 0882957 or visit www.themilitarymutual.com

Protecting what matters

Introductoryoffer formembers of the Armed Forces. Applies to newcoverona‘likefor like’ basis bought before31.05.16 and is not combinable with anyother offer. Applicable to first year of coveronly.Coversubject to acceptance/Underwriting criteria. We will ask fordetails about your renewal. To claim this offer call free on 0800 0882957.

Spring 2016 | Homeport 69 Prizes | Win asummer getaWay for tWo in the french alps With ch llypoWDer

Chalet Company,Chilly Powder,are offering one lucky reader Star and aguest afour-night summer stay in Morzine, French Alps. Pr Based in the heart of Portes du Soleil, Chilly Powder provides ize direct access to arange of summer activities, including trail-running,white water rafting and rock climbing. The stunning collection of four family run chalets received three prestigious TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2014 and is known for its exquisite food and bespoke service. Chilly Powder is offering one reader and aguest half-board accommodation in their main hotel, Au Coin Du Feu, including wine with the five course evening meal, daily afternoon tea and use of all facilities at the chalets including ahot tub, pool table and sauna. Formore information on Chilly Powder please visit: www.chillypowder.com and follow @ChillyPowderSki. To be entered into the draw for this fabulous four-night stay,send in your details marked ‘Chilly’. This prize is only open to serving members of the Royal navy/Royal Marines and their immediate families. The winner will need to supply details for clarification.

WinaLong Weekend Break at China Fleet Club The China Fleet Country Club has 41 self-catering apartments/cottages that it offers to its beneficiaries for aheavily subsidised fixed price (all year round rate) allowing you to take an affordable break, no matter the season. This rate is available to ALL our beneficiary categories and includes full use of their extensive Health &Leisure facilities during your stay. To celebrate their 25th Anniversary supporting the RN&RM family,weare delighted to offer one lucky beneficiary family the chance to win aLong Weekend Break (Friday –Monday) in one of the Tamar Apartments (sleeping two adults and two children) with breakfasts included. If you would liketoenter for your chance to win along Weekend Break at the China Fleet Club, send in your entry marked ‘China’.

For all Reader Offers: Competitions are open to all readers of Homeport, except employees of the NFF and their families, its publishers, Competitionsprinters and anyone connected with the competitions. Only one entry per household per prize. Your details will not be passed on to any organisations.

70 Homeport |Spring 2016 | Prizes up 2 4 FoR gRAbs 1 3 6 7

5

1 WinaMeal at Portmouth For your chance to win, occupants of the silent deep. and support services in the Historic Dockyard send in your details marked For your chance to win acopy Defence and Government and Set in the heart of Portsmouth ‘Hound’. of the ‘Silent Deep’, mark your offshore and remote sectors, Historic Dockyard, Hampshire, entry ‘Silent’. both in the UK and around the Boathouse 7isthe ideal place 3 WinaLittle world. to visit during your time at the Troopers Hoodie and 5 Winone of three pots Supercheques can be redeemed dockyard offering fabulous Separation Pack of Emu Balm online and used for high street hand-made pizza, fish &chips Be in with achance of winning How many people reading stores, theatre tokens, Vue in Mary Rose Ale, or something your Little Trooper aHoodie this article either regularly or Cinemas, dining out, spa days, as simple as acup of tea. and Separation pack from the sporadically suffer from back short breaks or Buyagift. Anew restaurant ‘Midships’ is charity Little Troopers. pain, arepetitive strain injury or For your chance to win, mark due to open spring 2016. The The Hoodies have an embroi- muscle ache? your entry ‘SuperCheque’. stunning bistro restaurant will dered logo to the front and ‘I’m However,there is pain relief offer amazing views over the aLittle Trooper’printed on the available that does not involve 7 WinShopping harbour entrance or down onto back, and are available in vari- drugs or side-effects. Emu vouchers forYou the museum itself. ous sizes. Balm is a100% healing balm We have avoucher for £100 Boathouse 7are offering one Also included in the prize is a that harnesses the natural to give away,courtesy of lucky winner ameal voucher Separation pack. Both are avail- power of Emu oil and blends Sodexo Defence that can be for £60 to be used at either able to buy in the Little Troopers it with essential oils known for used in thousands of the best Boathouse7 or the new shop www.littletroopers.net. their ability to relieve pain, entertainment, fashion, dining ‘Midships’ restaurant. For your To win aLittle Troopers Hoodie reduce inflammation, improve and leisure outlets across the chance to win, send in your and Separation Pack, send in circulation and relax tight UK;either on the high street or details marked ‘Boathouse’. your details marked ‘Trooper’. muscles; it is fast acting and online. non-greasy when massaged Click on the ‘My Vouchers’ 2 WinaHoofing Hound 4 WinaCopyof into the skin. Dog Bed ‘The Silent Deep: To order your pot of Emu Balm tab on the website www. The Royal Marines Shop is The RoyalNavySubmarine visit Lorem online at www. sayshopping.co.uk to find out offering one lucky reader the ServiceSince1945’ Book loremcare.co.uk or telephone where you can spend your chance to win aBritish made, The Silent Deep is the first 0845 6256 736. We have vouchers. Choose from Driving high quality,boxed duvet for authoritative history of the THREE pots of Emu Balm to Experiences, Jewellery,Fashion your pet to snuggle into that is Submarine Service from the be won, courtesy of Lorem. and Beauty,Tenpin Bowling,a both soft and supportive. end of the Second World War To enter send in your details cruise down the Thames with This is amedium bed, however to the present. It gives the marked ‘Emu’. Bateaux London and many (as modelled by the gorgeous most complete account yet of more. Dexter), it is suitable for dogs up the development of Britain’s 6 Win£150 Supercheques Sodexo Defence is committed to Labrador size. It is also fully submarine fleet, its capabilities, courtesyofESS to the wellbeing of all those in washable. its weapons, its infrastructure, We have £150 worth of the Armed Forces Community Measuring 98 cm long x62 its operations and above all Supercheques to give away and to their families, past and cm wide x15cmdeep, this -from the testimony of many for one lucky reader,courtesy present. Hoofing Hound dog bed, worth submariners and the first-hand of ESS,the market leading To win £100 of SayShopping £39.95, will give your dog a witness of the authors -what provider of catering,retail, Vouchers, mark your entry place to snooze in comfort. life is like on board for the leisure, facilities management ‘Voucher’.

Send in your name and address on apostcard to NFF,Castaway House, 311 Tw yford Avenue, Portsmouth PO2 8RN or e-mail [email protected],clearly stating which offer you are applying for. Closing date for entries is 13th May 2016.

Last Edition Winners ESS Supercheque: Mr IMcCallum Royal Marines Uckers Set: Subscription Offer Sodexo Insitju Gilding Master Class: KAitken, Glasgow SayShopping Vouchers: Mrs MFulker,Nuneaton Sodexo Shopping Vouchers: Mrs FNeeson, Helensburgh Go Commando Calendar: Mr IHamblin Army vNavy Rugby Tickets: Mr MPlummer,Middlesex; Mr JC Green Beret Tie &Cufflinks: JKey,Bridgend; SRayment, Plymouth Richardson, Kirkby-in-Ashfield Mr SOuten, Lincoln

Spring 2016 | Homeport 71 In beautiful countryside one mile south of the small Cotswold town of Corsham –midway between Bath and Chippenham lies The Services Cotswold Centre

Any Service family needing short term accommodation, between postings, on retirement, for a break in the country or for Welfare reasons can stay at the Centre.

You stay in centrally heated, fully furnished and equipped, 3 to 4 bedroom self-catering chalets.

To find out more contact your Welfare Office or telephone the Centre 01225 810358. Your Home from Home

discounts for military families

OPEN MORNING2016 11 June

Who dodo you ...where happy children succeed want to be? proudly supporting military families for generations Contactustoarrange your personalvisit or flexi boarding taster academicexcellence •sporting and creative •the bestinboarding MSJ Buses serve 5counties. Direct trains to Great Malvern. Services discount available. Next OpenMornings ~19th March &21st May2016 Come alongand see us at the Places available in Years 8and 12 for September 2016 Joint Services Command and StaffCollege Boarding Schools Fair, 15 Avenue Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 3BA. Tel: 01684 584624 Defence Academy, Shrivenham, Thursday 25th February,6pm-8.30pm www.malvernstjames.co.uk [email protected] @malvernstjames Independent Pre-Prepand PreparatorySchool,Boarding and Day, for Boys and Girls 3-13 Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 1NS ~01425 653181 [email protected] The Boarding and Day School for Girls aged 4-18 72 Homeport |Spring 2016 OPEN DAY

BE PART OF THE EXPERIENCE Saturday 30th April—10 am arrival Please contact us to reserve your place

Co-educational day &boarding: ages 13–18 > telephone: 01823 328204 > admissions@kings-taunton.co.uk > www.kings-taunton.co.uk

‘Bo arders feel safe and well cared for’ ISI report, October 2014 Our vibrant boarding community offers full-time and flexible boarding for 7–18 years Forces parents pay no more than 10% of fees in Prep and 15% of fees in Senior 01823 703700 www.tauntonschool.co.uk

Spring 2016 | Homeport 73 The Royal Hospital School is rated EXCELLENT in every area

The Royal Hospital School in Holbrook, Suffolk was visited by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and the report is summarised as follows: “The School has clear aspirations for its pupils. It seeks to promote the attributes of inspiration, challenge and leadership in its pupils. Pupils are encouraged to strive for academic excellence and to endorse the values of service, loyalty and commitment whilst upholding the School’s unique and rich heritage. The School encourages leadership and asense of adventure and self-discovery.Ahigh priority is the promotion of service both within the School and to the wider community”. Nine ratings were given in the full report and the Royal Hospital School received the top excellent rating in all areas. Highlighting the School’s long association with the Royal Navy the report stated that ‘Pupils show strong moral and social awareness and their sense of British values is highly tuned as adirect result of the School’s links with the Royal Navy’. For more information and to read the full report go to www.royalhospitalschool.org or join us at our Open Morning on 14 May 2016. To book aplace, contact Kate Evers on 01473 326136 or [email protected]

Clayesmore for your child

Prep and Senior Schools share abeautiful Dorset setting, friendly boarding facilities and areal family feel Atrue understanding of families in the forces The comforting stability offered by our all-through education leads to lasting confidence OPEN DAYS 12 March7M2016ay 2016• 7May 2016 10am -2pm ‘Caring, happy and successful across Prep 01747 813155 • Senior 01747 812122 all ability levels’ The Good Schools Guide www.clayesmore.com

74 Homeport |Spring 2016 School fees fixed at CEA +10% of the school fees –thereisnomoretopay.*

Small class sizes, individual learning and superb facilities lead to life-changing opportunities and excellent results. Full boarding available with an exciting weekend activity programme.

Wycliffe Nursery,Preparatory,Senior School &Sixth Form Co-educational day and boarding school for 2–18years To find out more, or to arrange avisit please contact: Charlotte Phillips (Senior) on 01453 820412 or Wendy Robertson (Preparatory) on 01453 820471. Stonehouse, Gloucestershire GL10 2JQ Tw itter @WycliffeCollege wycliffe.co.uk *Terms and conditions apply ** We accept Childcare Vouchers

OPEN DAY

BE PART OF THE FAMILY Friday 29th April—10 am arrival Please contact us to reserve your place

Co-educational day &boarding: ages 2–13 > telephone: 01823 285921 > [email protected] > www.kingshalltaunton.co.uk

Spring 2016 | Homeport 75 Logic wiLL get you from AtoB ImagInatIon wIll take youeverywhere Albert Einstein

GSAGirls’Boarding and DaySchool11-18

20% Forces Discount Available 01483 810551 Open Morning 29 April10.30-12.30pm priorsfieldschool.com

Registered Charity No.312038

76 Homeport |Spring 2016 LEADERSHIP • CHARACTER • PRIDE • SELF-DISCIPLINE • SPIRITUALITY • SPORTSMANSHIP • RESPECT

Full andweekly boarding now available

The DukeOpofenYork’MosRoyalrningMilitary:1School2Maris aschtate201boar6ding schoolContaforct usstudentsto book apagedlace or11to arrangto 18.eapersonaltour and interview

TheWeDukewelcomeof Yoapplicationsrk’sRoyal MilitafromryanySchostudentol is aswhotate boarwantsdingto schostudyol GCSEsfor studeandntsALagedevels11attoour18.unique and iconic school Wewithwelcits omestrongapplitraditions.cations from any student who wantsto study GCSEs and ALevels at our unique and iconicschool withWhyits strongchoosetraditionsus?. Wh• Gradedyc‘Good’hooinseall aruseas?by • Active lifestyle including Ofsted. sport, music, drama and • Graded ‘Good’ in all areas by • Activactivities.elifestyle including •OfsteOverd.80% of our students sport,music, dramaand securetheir first or second Over 80% of our students •activi£24.9ties.million refurbishment • choice of University. has delivered anew securetheir first or second • £24.9 millionrefurbishment •choicEveryeostudentfUniverissityencouraged. hassportsdelivecentrredane, high-qualityew accommodation and teaching • Everyto achievestudenttheiris encopotentialurageind a sportscentre, high-quality tosupportiveachieve theircommunitypotential. in a accomblocksmodaand aptionerformingand teachartsing supportive community. blockcentrsae. nd aperforming arts • Military ethos helps develop centre. • Militacharacterry ethosandhelpslife skills.develop • Students have the flexibility character and life skills. • Studeof fullntsandhaveweeklythe flexibboarding.ility of full and weekly boarding. 2015/16 fees arejust £11,820* per year. 2015/16 fees arejust £11,820* per year. IfIfyouyouqualifqualifyyfforor CEA,CEA,youyouwillwillonlyonlypaypay£1,18£1,1822pperer yearyear. .

Enquiries: 01304 245073 [email protected] www.doyrms.com

*Fees are reviewedannually Cherish the Important things inLife

OPENDAY Education for Life... 7th May Co-educationalDay &Boarding from 3-13 10am-12.30pm 44 (0)1722 333423 | Salisbury, Wilts SP11LR www.chafyngrove.co.uk

Discounts for children from Forces Families 10%for daypupilsand 15%for boarding pupils KEEPINGYOU IN TOUCH

WelComE (WelfareCommunications Everywhere) -providing communication services to link entitled UK Service personnel on operational duty with their families and friends backhome. Free* voicemail Familyand friends based in theUK, Germanyand Cyprus can leave voicemail messages forentitled UK Service personnel currentlyserving on operational duty overseas. Entitled deployedpersonnel can retrieve voicemail messages forfreein-theatre. Online top-up service Entitled deployedpersonnel, familyand friends can top-up WelComE Account Cards via the Online Account Manager. ed. Limit

Visit www.mywelcome.co.uk fordetails. Astrium of ademark Tr ed er egist aR is lComE We ed. serv re rights All

WelComE Customer Contact Centre digm. ra

[email protected] Pa www.mywelcome.co.uk -© *Freewhen calling from aUK, German or Cypriot landline 255 Mobile and international call costs mayvary. Checkwithyour mobile/service provider 10 Queen Victoria School Raising to Distinction

Admissions Deadline 15 Jan eachyear

QueenVictoria School in Dunblane is aco-educational boarding school for the children of UK Armed Forces personnel who areScottish, or who have served in Scotland or who have been members of aScottish regiment.

The QVS experience encourages and develops well-rounded, confident individuals in an environment of stability and continuity.

The main entry point is into Primary 7and all places arefully funded for tuition and boarding by the Ministry of Defence.

Families arewelcome to find out morebycontacting Admissions on +44 (0) 131 310 2927 to arrange avisit. Queen Victoria School Dunblane Perthshire FK15 0JY www.qvs.org.uk