If you are deployed for 4 – 12 weeks you are now eligible to 2 Family Welfare Grant Days Out, over the 12 weeks is now 3!
What is Family Welfare Grant
The aim of the Family Welfare Grant (FWG) is to assist deployed Units, Ships and Flights in providing welfare support and enhanced communication to families of Serving Personnel (SP) deployed on operations. This makes families feel more informed and instils a stronger sense of involvement as well as alleviating some of the stresses and hardship generated by separation.
Units and individual SP may take advantage of FWG funding providing they are away from base port for more than seven days, but this does differ for certain support provided, such as the FWG Days Out where eligibility to these is based on SP being deployed away from base port for more than four weeks.
FWG policy is detailed in Joint Service Publication (JSP) 770 Part 1, Chapter 6, Annex G. The Royal Navy have highlighted how it is using this funding in Royal Navy Temporary Memorandum (RNTM) 24/ - the Army and RAF may have other ways in place to use the funding.
Who can take advantage of FWG
For the purposes of these regulations, except where otherwise stated, the close family of SP (and/or their spouse/civil partner) are eligible and include Children (dependent/non-dependent/step and grandchildren); Parent (Step, in-laws, and Stepparent); Legal Guardian; Sibling (including half/step sibling); and person nominated as Emergency Contact. There is no public funding for ‘friends’ of deployed entitled personnel.
How much is FWG
The grant is currently calculated based on £4.40 per week for each serving member of the Unit in receipt of DWP (Deployed Welfare Package) support.
What can it pay for
Pre-deployment events may be funded from the FWG and claimed against the anticipated income generated by the forthcoming deployment.
Homecoming events may also be funded but must be no later than two weeks after personnel or units return from deployment or post operational leave.
Deployment Events delivered by Royal Navy Family & People Support (RN FPS) Community Staff on behalf of deployed Units.
FWG Days Out managed by RN FPS allowing Families to take advantage of up to two events within the four-to-twelve-week period and an additional event if the deployment is over twelve weeks. The intention is that this should enable most RN families to take advantage of FWG events wherever they live.
Bespoke events, such as ‘wave away,’ coffee mornings, children’s parties, homecomings etc. if funding is available.
Publications and Memory Boxes for Children which support in the Health & Wellbeing of the Family during deployment.
How do I find out what is planned
All activities and events will be advertised within the RN Forum, either on the Members Activities and Events Calendar or within the Units bespoke group. Both will require a Members Account and once in, we suggest the member follows the groups of choice so that they receive notifications with each update. A full annual calendar can be downloaded here within the Deployment Topics area.
Why do the bookings close so early
Once the bookings close, they are downloaded for checking against deployment status of the Unit and the service number noted is also checked so that families only have what they are eligible for.
On completion of this check the bookings are given to the lead Community Worker who will contact you and book the tickets which will be sent via email to you.
Ensure you keep the date for the Day Out free and if you need accessible tickets, please contact the place you are visiting to book as RN FPS cannot do this for you.
Further details on FWG Days Out and other events can be requested via [email protected]
