FANDF keeping military families’ voices heard

01 May 2024

The Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum – commonly known as FANDF – held its Spring event recently at Leuchars Station.

FANDF is a tri-Service group for serving personnel, reservists, and their families who have a child or adult immediate family member with an additional need, disability, or both.

The aim of the event – around 30 people attended – was to give a voice to Forces’ families with additional needs and disabilities and to ensure that those voices are amplified to policy and decision makers. The focus was on transition into Scotland from other countries, including elsewhere in the UK, with an emphasis on the impact of the differing education systems and devolved legislation that supports children with additional needs and disabilities, and the overall impact of relocation.

As well as FANDF committee members and serving personnel and their families, the event featured representatives from Army Welfare Service, Association of Directors of Education in Scotland, Education Scotland, Forces Children Education, Fife Carers, and Children’s Health Scotland with presentations from the latter three.

Those attending the FANDF Spring event described it as “valuable” and “well targeted”, and that “…the tone was just right for the subjects”.