This week, HMS Prince of Wales welcomed serving personnel and their loved ones on board for a special pre-deployment Families Day, supported by Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) and several Royal Navy charities.
The event celebrated the vital role of families within the naval community while showcasing the broad range of support available to them.
As part of the event, RNRMC proudly launched its new ‘Strengthening Families – By Your Side’ booklet—a vital resource designed to support serving personnel and their families through the challenges of naval life, particularly during periods of deployment or separation. The booklet, available in hard copy and online via Operation High Mast, provides essential guidance across four key areas:
- Whole Family Support – Strengthening bonds, providing respite, and creating opportunities for shared experiences.
- Relationship Support – Helping individuals maintain strong, healthy relationships despite the challenges of service life.
- Parenting Support – Equipping parents with skills and resources to help children thrive in a military environment.
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Support – Promoting resilience, positive mental health, and access to expert support when needed.
A Pathway of Support
The booklet details different levels of assistance to ensure that every family can access support tailored to their needs:
- Peer/Friendship Support – Community events and informal networks to help families connect.
- Community Support – Activities designed to alleviate loneliness and provide early intervention.
- Community-Based Interventions – Specialist support for specific challenges.
- Professional Interventions – Expert-led assistance for more complex situations.
As a serving member of the Royal Navy, I know how challenging deployments and time away from loved ones can be. The ‘Strengthening Families – By Your Side’ initiative is a fantastic resource, offering real, practical support for our families, who are the backbone of what we do. Knowing that my family has access to this kind of help and guidance gives me peace of mind, allowing me to focus on my role, wherever I am in the world.
PO Michelle Williams, a medical assistant, serving on HMS Prince of Wales has two children with her wife, a Chief Technician also currently serving in the RAF
RNRMC is committed to providing practical, meaningful support to the Royal Naval community. ‘Strengthening Families – By Your Side’ is about ensuring that no Royal Naval or Royal Marine family, in whatever form that family might take, feels alone.
Whether it’s through peer connections, professional guidance, or wellbeing initiatives, we are here to help. We encourage all naval families to explore the support available and reach out whenever they need it.
Andrew Jameson, CEO of RNRMC
