A senior psychologist at the University of Worcester is leading a new national research project aiming to improve support for UK Armed Forces families.
Dr Gabriela Misca was the co-author of a landmark report, published five years ago, which highlighted the unique challenges faced by UK Armed Forces families and made more than 100 recommendations for change.
The ‘Living in Our Shoes’ report brought to light the challenges of frequent relocations, long separations, and the impact of military life on children’s education.
Dr Misca, working with report co-author Professor Janet Walker OBE as well as Peter Davis OBE, who previously led on Armed Forces Families policy at the Ministry of Defence, has now been awarded £329,000 from Forces in Mind Trust to evaluate the progress made so far in meeting these challenges.
The research will also determine the future priorities for families and recommend what action is required by the government and the third sector.
Dr Misca said: “Armed forces are an underserved population, an invisible subculture at the interface between military and civilian cultures. Within the context of ongoing armed conflicts, advancing understanding of the challenges faced by these families and their support needs is a key priority.”
She added: “It’s crucial that strategies to address these are informed by up-to-date research evidence.”
Michelle Alston, Chief Executive of Forces in Mind Trust, said successive official reports had emphasised the crucial role that families play in the armed forces community.
She said: “While these reports have helped to increase focus on this important area of government policy, there’s still more that needs to be done to address the challenges our families experience due to the unique demands of service life.”
She added: “We’re delighted therefore to fund this project, which will provide a valuable stocktake of progress to date and determine how and where future efforts should be focussed to support armed forces families.
During the 30-month project, the research team will analyse recent changes in the strategic context, conduct a high-level policy review, and undertake an in-depth evaluation of each of the identified priority areas of need, highlighting examples of best practice in support of Armed Forces families.