An upcoming RAF Families Federation Community Forum will explore the emotional and practical support available to RAF personnel and families navigating separation or divorce; with a focus on how to deal with the emotional impact, deciding on child arrangements post separation and how to make positive decisions for the future.
When is it?
Date: Tuesday 16th June 2026
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Location: Online (via Teams)
Why should I attend?
The RAF Families Federation (RAF FF) will host a Community Forum focused on supporting those experiencing relationship breakdown, separation or divorce.
The forum is designed for RAF personnel and families who may be struggling emotionally following a breakup, or who have resolved the emotional aspects but need practical guidance to move forward.
Two specialist speakers will offer short, accessible presentations:
- Chris Paterson‑Deacon, Break‑up and Divorce Coach, will outline the emotional and practical support she offers to individuals navigating separation. Chris may be able to offer pro‑bono, means‑tested support, including an initial free session.
- Louise Neilson, Trainee Family Mediator and former barrister specialising in family law, will explain the processes surrounding separation, child arrangements and mediation, and how families can make arrangements without immediately resorting to court action. Louise brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. A Cambridge law graduate and former family law barrister, she later retrained as a mediator and accredited divorce and breakup coach, with a strong focus on empathetic, practical outcomes for families.
The session will include a general Q&A, with questions taken in a thematic and non‑personal way. To protect privacy and ensure a safe space, the discussion will not involve personal testimony or individual legal advice.
Caz Evans, RAF Families Federation SME Lead, will also be present to:
- Signpost further support and funding options
- Provide guidance on finance‑related considerations
- Highlight routes to help for both individuals and line managers
The forum is open to those attending in a personal or professional capacity, including line managers, welfare staff and colleagues supporting others through relationship breakdown.
How to Sign Up
- Email [email protected] for RAF Community Forum T&Cs and consent form.
- Return completed consent form to [email protected].
- Receive joining instructions and reminders for the webinar from us.
About the RAF Community Forum
The RAF Community Forum is a means of gathering feedback from the RAF personnel and family on the key challenges that affect the community. It provides the RAFFF with qualitative data on key themes, adding depth to survey findings.
The RAFFF then take this information and present it as evidence, anonymised, to the RAF hierarchy, Government ministers and other organisations, to influence positive changes on behalf of the RAF community.
