MP welcomes new support for military families

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has welcomed new plans from the Government to support military families.

The Government has published ‘The Family Strategy’, a new 10-year plan recognising the unique nature of military life and setting out bespoke support for service families. The strategy will deliver lasting, cultural change over the next decade as it brings together innovative policies on health and wellbeing, education, and career support.

The families of those in the UK Armed Forces have exceptional demands placed upon them, including social isolation, loneliness, and mental health issues. This can be caused by factors such as repeated relocation and long periods of family separation whilst serving personnel are on deployment.

‘The Family Strategy’ will allow for the individual needs of each family to be considered, whether that involves improving health and wellbeing, access to learning and childcare, developing partners’ careers alongside the serviceperson or career management sensitive to the needs of the family. Specific measures include expanding the Wraparound Childcare Pilot for military families, bringing the total number of service children with access to childcare before and after school to 1,500.

Robbie Moore MP said: “Military families sacrifice so much to support The Armed Forces personnel who keep us safe. There are challenging demands placed on them, particularly around loneliness and mental health, and it is vital that we give them the unique support they deserve.

I am very supportive of ‘The Family Strategy’, which acknowledges these challenges. It will provide essential childcare support to help it be possible to serve in the Armed Forces whilst raising a family.”

Leo Docherty MP, Minister for Veterans, said: “Armed Forces families are at the heart of the Defence community and play a key role in the protection of the UK at home and abroad. The strategy seeks to offer choice and flexibility to allow personnel to serve their nation and raise a family at the same time.

These announcements cover childcare education, healthcare and much more to demonstrate our commitment to being a mode modern and inclusive employer – flexible to the needs of our people.”