CAREER PURSUIT 2021

RESOURCES 72 RFEA FAMILIES PROGRAMME rior to the pandemic, partners and spouses of those serving already faced a number of challenges when entering the workplace, from frequent moves and isolated locations, to lack of social support and employment networks. Research shows they are also more likely to take on greater caring responsibilities and may undervalue their experience and deselect themselves from roles they are suitable for. Now they are facing a new set of challenges as a result of Covid-19, as many of the roles that offered flexibility, such as hospitality and retail, have gone into sharp decline. RFEA’s Families Programme is led by expert employment advisers who, as well as having expert knowledge of the local job markets, have experienced many of the same challenges as military spouses and partners. They are on-hand to support with anything from careers advice to career diagnostics, helping partners and spouses with how to obtain a job by helping them know where to look, as well as CV reviews and interview techniques. Lee Johnston, families employment adviser at RFEA, says: “Whether it’s in terms of welfare, family, or deployment, I can completely empathise with the challenges our clients face, because, as the wife of a Royal Marine, I’ve experienced them myself. That’s why I am so passionate about getting our clients to where they want to be.” Covid-19 has had a huge impact on employmentandmanymilitarypartners/ spouses have been disproportionately affected. The good news is that RFEA is actively working with a range of organisations, across industries such as financial, technology, and healthcare, who all have vacancies to fill and recognise the value of employing people with experience of military life. The Families Programme also works closely with the Forces Families Jobs board, set up by the Families Federations, and also uses RFEA’s extensive network of over 9,000 employers who actively recruit Service leavers and veterans. RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity offers a unique Families Programme to help the civilian spouses and partners of still serving and ex-Service personnel (including divorced, separated and widowed, in the UK and overseas) into meaningful employment with the support of a dedicated families employment adviser. P