Supporting the Wives - Flo

[Nomad]

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After reading the forum on lack of support for the wives. I have to agree. There was ameeting about this subject at 40 Cdo Rm and a lot of points were put forward by the wives and girlfriends of serving members. I have been allocated the position of Families Rep and i hope to achieve a feeling of community belonging with the help of the street reps that we intend to recruit. This process may take some time as I too am a wife and mother to three children, but any comments and ideas will, I promise you be taken on board. The idea for street reps is to make new wives feel at ease in there new surroundings. There will be total confidentiality and I am sorry that one of you have had problems with 'Fishwives' but we here at 40 hope that attitudes will change. I have been on the 6 'patches' and yes I too have encountered gossips, but you have to remember that they are bored and probably resenting their fellas being away. If we can keep wives happy and busy ie. newsletters, coffee mornings, creche, etc then hopefullly we can reduce this significantly. My email is Fionaxkeys@hotmail.com and if any one has any comments please get in touch. It is only through you that we can make changes . Thank You.
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[flo]

Thanks lorraine
I too am ex forces 6 years Wrens. I have to say that I too felt uncomfortable when I visited the local Hive that is why we dont want one here at 40 Cdo. We all feel we want a drop in centre but with some organised events. It would seem that camp has taken us on board and fingers crossed we might be able to steer them into our way of thinking. When we get organised it would be great if you could come down and give us your views. Then im sure a good run ashore could be organised. If i can get a hrdened cynic (no offence) like yourself to come down and say Yes its changed then i will have done my job. Let me know what you think went wrong and things that could be improved on. Keep in touch. Fiona

[flo]

Thanks Lorraine,
Yes the drop in Families Club will be for use by all outlyers, long-term girlfriends and immediate family. I had a meeting with camp today and the new CO is totally with us 100%. We have to do some serious fundraising but we have been given a start up budget, which cant be too bad. Already we have had girls who we have never even talked to before coming forward to offer there services. They feel like i do about the 'old school' wives club, and are keen to start a new families club with new attitudes. We have organised a homework club for the children once a week and a childrens club on a Saturday that will be attended by a childs physicologist (i think that is how you spell it) who can monitor the children who's dads are away and offer any advice and help needed. We are having our first trip away within the next 5 weeks, plus producing a monthly newsletter and a newspaper for the lads when they are away on deployment or a long exercise. All these will be run by the wives alongside various members of Education Staff and Key senior members of Camp. But this is only the begining and any other ideas will be taken on board. So get your thinking cap on. Speak to you soon Fiona