RAF Association – Military Co-Working Network
In 2020, the RAF Association was awarded £337,000 under the Removing Barriers to Family Life programme to formally establish the Military Coworking Network (MCN) – a network of coworking hubs on or near to military bases, enabling members to access a strong, professional network. These hubs have since provided a portal between military and civilian communities, offering workspace and a networking community.
This year, following the fantastic success of the MCN so far, it has been awarded a further £199,930 via the Supporting Partners programme to extend the work they have begun; increasing the numbers using the hubs, and providing evidence of how the network can support operational effectiveness through partner support.
The primary objectives of the MCN include creating well-equipped coworking spaces, fostering a network of peers, and offering an online community for additional support. They have an ambitious extension plan and a good understanding of what works, thanks to the initial pilot project.
This includes embedding and driving relationships with a range of Service and Civil Service personnel at all Hub locations, ensuring they understand the flexibility of the Hub as an asset to the Unit, and asking them to promote the Hub and work with the MCN Delivery Team.
In addition, the MCN will conduct an evaluation of their initiatives to ensure that the hubs remain valuable and effective for the military partner community. Independent evaluations of the impact of using a Hub, conducted in 2020/21 showed that:
- 61% reported having an improved career
- 93% of hub users said they feel recognised by the MOD
- 67% reported feeling less lonely
Prior to 2020, the project was run by volunteers. The two-year pilot funded by the Removing Barriers to Family Life programme solidified the need for this resource and provided a way of demonstrating the positive impact access to a Hub could have on its users.
Now, with further funding, the Delivery Team hopes to plan for long-term sustainability. They will open three further Hubs and partner with local private coworking spaces in locations without Hubs and ensure the MCN provides a place for community cohesion, enabling partners to have access to a supporting and nurturing environment that allows them to make useful connections within their community.
From their ongoing work, the MCN knows this provision leads to enhanced opportunities to find and sustain employment; it can lead to increased financial independence and can offer an improved network and expanded opportunities.
Maria Lyle, Director, RAF Families Federation, said: “It was really heartening to see the positive impact the pilot project of the Military Co-Working Network has had. The partners involved in this project – including the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) and all three Family Federations can see the potential for this kind of model to become an important part of the support offered to military families. Most partners want (and need) to work, but maintaining a career when mobile can be both isolating and challenging. We very much hope that this continued funding will allow us to refine the model to further prove ‘what works’, and we will work with MOD to capture that for the future.”