Tuesday 9th April 2019
Partners of serving personnel at six RAF stations in the south east of England can take advantage of free training to become childminders, thanks to a grant secured by the RAF Association.
The charity that supports the RAF family has received £20,000 from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. The money will provide the opportunity for 32 RAF partners and spouses to participate in training to become Ofsted registered childminders.
It is hoped that the training will increase the employability of participants and increase the provision of high-quality childcare on RAF stations in the region.
Partners and spouses of personnel stationed at RAF Swanwick and Odiham in Hampshire, RAF Benson and Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, and RAF High Wycombe and Halton in Buckinghamshire have the opportunity to attend a course delivered by an accredited training provider.
Denitsa Hyland, Welfare Projects Manager at the RAF Association, said:
“Rising costs and limited capacity of local nurseries mean that families at these stations have had difficulties accessing affordable, quality childcare.
“Also, recent studies indicate that a quarter of all spouses and partners of RAF personnel across the UK have experienced difficulties in finding suitable employment. This grant could be the first step towards a new career for many people in this situation.”
Attendees will be eligible to apply for a childcare business grant from the government, once their Ofsted registration is complete, to help with the costs of setting up their own childminding business.
Similar courses have already been trialled by the RAF Association in 2017 and 2018 and their popularity has led to the charity securing this extra funding.
To register your interest, please contact [email protected]
