Welcome to the aff Website
The Army Families Federation (aff) is the independent voice of Army families and works hard to improve the quality of life for Army families around the world - on any aspect that is affected by the Army lifestyle. Find out How We Can Help.
Top stories
The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll
Her Majesty The Queen honours the families of fallen troops by giving her name to a new award. Read more on the MOD website.
Nationwide support for Armed Forces Day
The first Armed Forces Day took place on Saturday 27th June and was marked with events, parades and concerts across the UK and in British military bases around the world. Read more on the MoD website.
MHS Extended Hours Update
MHS has extended maintenance jobs into the evenings by allowing contractors to continue work up to 8pm with the customer’s approval. This means that rather than the contractor finishing at 4.30pm, they are able to work later to complete the job - meaning that a return visit the next working day would not be required. Saturday morning appointments (8am to 1pm) are also available for restricted appointments such as Landlord Gas Safety Inspections.
MHS are also exploring the option of booking maintenance appointments after 4.30pm. However, this is in the early stages of development and if proven successful, MHS will look at rolling this out to all areas. An update will be made available once the results are known. For further information, visit www.modernhousingsolutions.co.uk
Chief Executive of Defence Estates sets out housing priorities
Improving accommodation for Service personnel and their families is high on the Department's agenda. Read the full report on the MoD website by clicking here.
Childcare Voucher Scheme - update
Clarification from HMRC on the use of Childcare Vouchers for boarding school fees has been requested and received by the MOD.
It has been confirmed that private tuition fees come within the definition of qualifying childcare, provided that all the other qualifying conditions for employer provided childcare are met.
Boarding school fees qualify to the extent that these relate to care and to supervised activities, including private tuition, which are provided outside the compulsory education. It is therefore important that the costs for these are identified separately from the costs charged for the compulsory education.
If there is no separate identification of these elements, then the total cost would be regarded as being for the compulsory education, and vouchers provided for such costs would be chargeable to tax and NIC.
Therefore, childcare vouchers CAN be used for the boarding element of school fees, and this must be made clear on school bills and invoices.
Changes have also been made to the scheme that make it possible to join and leave at any time, and which enable parents to start claiming vouchers before they have their childcare in place. For further information on the scheme, view the latest SFTF Childcare Voucher Scheme factsheet or visit www.modchildcare.co.uk
My Mummy Is A Soldier
In November 2008, Gerry Waters released her first book, My Daddy Is A Soldier which has sold over 4000 copies. Gerry has now gone on to write her second book, My Mummy Is A Soldier which went on sale in May. Gerry is kindly donating a percentage of the profit from sales of My Mummy Is A Soldier to the Afghan Appeal Fund.
National Hedge Reduction Programme – June 2009.
MODern Housing Solutions (MHS), on behalf of Defence Estates Ops Housing (DE), has been tasked to carry out a full hedge reduction programme across all Service
Family estates in England and Wales (this does not include PFI estates). The programme is taking place during 2009 and will continue until the end of March 2010
at least. The non communal hedges that fall under the contract have been measured to determine the work required to be carried out, or if indeed work needs to be carried out at all. As a result of this survey, occupants are now being notified in writing of appointment times to reduce these hedges. MHS will be cutting hedges on a street by street basis to a common height of 1.6m unless an existing embedded fence is higher, in which case to the height of that fence. If occupants have any queries in respect to the works, they should contact the MHS Helpdesk or email us at info@modernhousingsolutions.co.uk 
