Army Families' Concerns Jan-June 2019

Abstract: After a significant rise of 37% in 2018, we have seen the number of enquiries stabilise at 7,176, almost the same as this period in 2018. Housing continues to be the largest area of enquiries from families, but where issues with repairs and maintenance have slightly reduced, we continue to see more families contacting us with concerns around the Future Accommodation Model. Education is a growing area, with families raising issues about the use of the Service Pupil Premium and increasing enquiries from schools. We have also received increasing enquiries from the Wiltshire area, following the rebasing programme. Our Foreign and Commonwealth enquiries continue to be significant and we are aware that these may rise as the Army recruits increasing numbers of these personnel. AFF remains alert to the impact of Service life on Army families, with a 21% increase in enquiries about the effect on the family of training and deployment, related to the impact of this absence and tempo on family and welfare support. Despite the small numbers involved, we have seen a rise in enquiries about domestic abuse linked to relationship breakdown, which has highlighted the need to look carefully at how our most vulnerable families are supported.

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