Can you imagine a member of your family going away for months at a time, with no contact from them, and you only get to send them 120 words a week? This is what families who have loved ones serving on a Vanguard Class Submarine have to endure.
For those serving onboard an Astute class submarine, there may be limited contact from the serving person, such as emails or phone calls, throughout the deployment.
Royal Navy Family & People Support (RN FPS) can help during this time. Our mission is to provide unwavering support to naval families, including during the challenging periods of submarine deployment. With limited or no contact between families and their loved ones at sea, RN FPS steps in to offer guidance, comfort, and community activities in partnership with the unit’s support crew, 5th watch and the Submarine Flotilla.
RN FPS’s engagement with serving people and their families starts before deployment. Pre-deployment briefs are delivered to service people on base and they are encouraged to share these with their family members too We want to ensure they are aware of our services and support options for themselves and their families, easing their worries that their families will be supported while they are away and offering any last minute advice to support them in the preparation for deployment.
Families are contacted direct and are provided with details of an online Meet and Greet where they will be introduced to the RN FPS staff based in Scotland and the RN support team who will discuss support services on offer, the importance of families using the Royal Navy Forum, rather than any other form of communication, where essential contact details are given. Families are encouraged to share where they are from and who is their serving person (husband, wife, son, daughter, etc). Connection and peer support are so important to deployed families and through these meetings, families learn that they are not alone and can gain comfort in sharing their collective knowledge and experiences.
Following the Meet and Greet, another online session is offered to families to learn about the support that Naval Charities can offer, not only through periods of separation but for the duration of their loved one’s naval service and beyond. Partnership working allows RN FPS and the charitable sector to provide a wide range of services from individualised one-to one support through to community activities.
During the Covid 19 pandemic, the world changed and to continue supporting deployed families RN FPS adapted to providing online support, it was quickly noticed that the demographic of those attending the online meetings differed from those who were able to attend face to face support that was delivered pre pandemic. More parents of serving submariners were able to join in online and we were reaching people from all over the UK, Ireland and as far afield as Spain and South Africa. Recognising the wider need of submariner families and the bigger reach that online sessions could have, RN FPS adapted the strategy and moved support online permanently. Whilst face to face support and local events do still take place, an online alternative is offered to those who are dispersed from the base port areas.
To find out about events and activities, The Royal Navy Forum is the “go to source” for official communications to stay informed as well as opportunities to sign up for community events available locally or nationwide. These. range from afternoon teas to trips to theme parks to zoos to theatre trips to chocolate factories and are available throughout the UK. This means that no matter where a family is located across the UK there is something for them that they can engage with and benefit from.
RN FPS as an organisation are continually seeking feedback which provides the ability to tailor the services provided to the needs of the community. As a result, additional and specific support has been developed for those who are parents of submariners and for those experiencing deployments for the first time. This is offered in smaller setting and gives individuals the opportunity to ask questions, gather insights and feel more comfortable that the advice given is adapted for them. One common question is do they celebrate birthdays whilst at sea. (In case you are wondering, yes, they do and there is even cake…)
A firm favourite online meeting is a Virtual Walkthrough of a Submarine provided by Mark Harris from Submarine Qualifying Course (SMQ), with software provided from the RN STEM team. This popular feature allows families to explore the environment where their loved ones serve, with special sessions tailored for children. Families have found it reassuring seeing where their loved one eats, sleeps, works, and spends their leisure time with a bit of information on how the submarine works.
In addition to sharing information and advice, the deployment support also includes community activities such as Bingo Nights, Quiz Nights which are often a favourite amongst families. These offer some light-hearted fun with other families going through the same thing, and knowing they are not on their own helps alleviate anxiety and extends peer support networks.
Towards the end of a deployment, an online session is set up by RN FPS to prepare for the homecoming of the submarine, so families have a realistic expectation of their loved one’s return. This can be an extremely exciting time for families but also a time which can make people feel nervous and unsettled. RN FPS explore how to support your loved one settling in at home and how you can look after yourself and children during this time. Reintegration home is different for all families, and no one size answer will fit all. We will give you more information for example on sleeping patterns taking a while to resync, low immune systems, reestablishing relationships, changes in food and routines as well as any practical elements to consider. This Teams meeting is joined by RN FPS Casework staff who use knowledge around the Cycle of Deployment to share with families that all these mixed emotions are “normal” and that they are not alone in these feelings can support families to feel less isolated and reduce worries.
One of the most anticipated events RN FPS hosts is the Craft Night, affectionately known as "Pizza & Banner Night." These are held, in person, at the Drumfork Community Centre although families are also able to join in the festivities online. This event brings families together to create homecoming banners while enjoying pizza, chips, and treats, with a movie playing in the background. It is a joyful time that marks the beginning of end of a long deployment, with excitement and anticipation in the air. Shelley Gilmour, Centre Manager, plays a crucial role in making these events special, always ready to assist and support. RN FPS staff and volunteers are available to help with craft or just lend an ear to families talking about their concerns.
Then there is the Homecoming. It is always highly anticipated, and for deployed families, every day in the lead up feels like the month of January – never ending, with a whole host of emotions to cope with too!
The day of the submarine returns starts with a trip to Rhu Spit to wave RNRMC flags and banners while the submarine sails past. There are lots of cheers, tears and on occasion marriage proposals… The celebration continues at HMNB Clyde where the families can have some food and entertainment whilst they anxiously await the return of their sailors. It is important to mark this journey with celebration and support both for the crew returning home and for families who have lived through the deployment.
Working closely with the support crew we at RN FPS have built relationships based on trust, mutual respect, and willingness to learn from each other. Our aim is to make sure the families can access the support they need. The homecoming events are supported by HMNB Clyde, and the HMNB Clyde Security and Pass Office, to ensure the event is safe and secure for families and the Royal Navy.
Listening to feedback from families who have previously attending Homecoming events, these have been improved to accommodate families who want to be a part of the homecoming celebration but their loved ones are duty that night and won’t be getting off the submarine that night by giving them the option to leave before the crew are released from the submarine. Additionally for families who feel it may be too overwhelming to welcome their loved one’s home in a public setting, provision is in place for them to be able to reunite in private.
Sophia McArdle, RN PFS Community Development Worker for Scotland says ‘At RN FPS, we believe in continuous improvement driven by family feedback. We actively encourage and welcome input from the families we serve, ensuring our support evolves to meet their needs. RN FPS staff are dedicated in providing comprehensive, compassionate support to navy families during submarine deployments. Through a range of engaging and meaningful activities, we help families stay connected, supported, and informed, making the long months apart a little easier to bear.’
RN FPS recognise the sacrifice and challenges that naval families and serving people make during periods of deployment and separation. We believe it is important that they can access support that meets their needs and can engage in activities that allow them to build resilience, develop relationships and secure meaningful support. Deployments come with their own challenges and our aim is that by delivering effective deployment support RN FPS are coming closer to making this challenging time easier for all families.
Aniela, Mum of Submariner, South Africa said:
It is not an easy thing when your only child has chosen to go to the other side of the world to enter into a career in the forces. I was born in the UK, but we moved to South Africa many years ago. Fortunately, we have family in the UK which gave comfort with regard to a support system.
My son completed his courses and was posted to a boat which went on patrol as soon as he joined the boat. It was daunting being so far away and not being able to have regular contact.
I received detailed correspondence as to the processes and support in place and most importantly how to be able to communicate with him with the weekly email system. I immediately joined all the Teams meetings, which were informative, and the support team were extremely patient with those of us where this was the first time our family member was on a patrol. There were obviously questions which could not be answered due to security, which I am sad to say that some civilians seem to be blinkered as to the sharing of sensitive information. I personally enjoyed all the teams meeting. There were quiz nights to get the family members to share time on Teams, not that I was any good due to not living in the UK currently, but they were great fun and informative for me at the same time.
My son did two patrols back-to-back We took part in each Teams meeting and “met” family members who were able to get together a specific time. I would have been totally lost without the support team. They always went the extra mile to keep us informed and sent emails out to prompt the family member when things needed to be arranged. Here I am specifically referring to the organizing of the Home Coming events. With my son’s second patrol he was still away when my father and I were due to arrive in Scotland on holiday. We did not expect to be there when he came in, so we did not timeously send through our identification information to be part of the Home Coming. The day we arrived in the UK, a few days before the boat was due in, we were informed that the Team had made an arrangement for my dad and I to be part of the Home Coming with other families. This was the absolute highlight of our trip, and we were so grateful to all those who made this happen for us. Coming from South Africa and being able to welcome you son home was a blessing.
The whole experience has motivated me to want to join such a team and to help those families who need extra support. I am moving to Scotland in 5 to 6 years, and this is something I feel strongly about. Support is needed in many ways and each one’s needs are different. If I am able to give comfort and support the way I have received it, that is what I would like to do.
Thank you to all the Support staff as well as the Navy members who answered questions and helped alleviate some of the stress.
CO – V-Boat said: I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your tremendous help in making our homecoming event such a success. The families and friends are all incredibly grateful and it was clear from the feedback we have received that the event greatly helped with the reconnection of their loved ones that were deployed.
This event would truly not have gone as well without all your hard work, dedication, and attention to detail. From the planning to the execution, every aspect was handled excellently, and I deeply appreciate the time and effort each of you put in to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Thank you again for your support and for making this event as meaningful and memorable as it was for all the families and their loved ones.
