Since we began Phase One of the study we have focused on undertaking a high-level review of progress with the implementation of the Living in Our Shoes recommendations, and a consideration as to whether the findings from that report are still pertinent today. We will continue to gather evidence over the coming months, and will provide our Phase One report in the summer.
Conversations and meetings
Much of our time has been spent gathering evidence from key people, including through:
- Conversations with the Chief of Defence People and his team in MOD; the Chief of the General Staff, and the Chief of the Air Staff
- Meetings with senior staff in the three Services and the three Families federations
- Regular meetings with the Families and Safeguarding team in MOD
- Conversations with a variety of key staff in MOD and other government departments and the devolved administrations
- Reviewing the Armed Forces Families Strategy 2022-2032
Since the Armed Forces Families Strategy 2022-2032 is a critical government mechanism for responding to many of the key issues raised in Living in Our Shoes, we are undertaking an in-depth review of the progress made in the different work streams, looking to understand what has worked well and where there have been challenges to implementation.
Research Review
We are reviewing the research about support for military families which has been undertaken in the last five years, especially the research and initiatives funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund. We are looking specifically at measurable outcomes and evidence of effectiveness, as well as the sustainability of good practice.
Advisory Group
We held the first meeting of the Advisory Group in January and are liaising with individual members as we progress with Phase One.
Briefings
We are taking an iterative approach to the study and will be publishing Briefings via the FiMT website throughout. The first three Briefings are now available with more to follow.
Armed Forces Charities Survey
A survey of the charities working closely with Armed Forces families is underway with submissions invited by 10 April. We welcome information from all those organisations in the third sector who support the Armed Forces community. Please share the link widely.
The link to the survey
Please feel free to contact the research team at any time and to share evidence that will contribute to our review and to our thinking. We are delighted with the level of support and interest we have received in the first few months of the project and look forward to continued engagement with the Armed Forces community as we go forward.
Our email is lios-r@outlook.com
