Staying in Touch

When the serving member of your family is away on a deployment or operation, effective communication can make separation more bearable. The Royal Navy and Royal Marines offer various communication and support networks, which ensure that families are kept informed with Service developments and can remain in contact with their loved ones. This section provides the details of the communication networks available; however, if you can’t find what you are looking for, please visit our family section, which has much information on family related issues and a segment on coping with deployment.

Telephone and Internet Access
WelComE (formally Paradigm) provide telephone and internet access for those on deployment. Click here to visit their website which explains the services offered to both the serving person and their family/friends.  

E-Bluey
When British Forces are deployed on operations they are entitled to free aerogrammers (known as 'blueys'). The electronic 'e-bluey' allows Service personnel with internet connection to maintain a personal and private two-way communication with those back home. Click here for details.

Postal Communication
The British Forces Post Office (BFPO) is the postal and courier service for the UK Armed Forces. For details on addressing your mail, information on what you can and can’t send, and to view a list of frequently asked questions, please click here to visit their website. BFPO offer several smartphone apps which make it easier to access their information and services.

Information and Communication

Homeport - The official magazine of the Naval Families Federation. This free, quarterly publication is full of useful information and helpful advice for those with a family member in the Service. It is circulated by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines to naval families throughout the world; distributed to ships, training establishments and HIVE’s. You can pick up a copy from the NFF office or sign up to the Homeport mailing list (application form) to get a copy delivered to your home for free.  An online version of the latest Homeport is available to download here (requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader). To find out more about the magazine, please visit the Homeport section of our website.

NFF e-update - Our e-mail update provides a summary of NFF activities and a short, snappy roundup of news and information of interest to Royal Navy and Royal Marines families. It cherry picks information from various sources and brings it all together on one neat little page. It is issued every other month. Click here to read the latest e-update and to join the mailing list.

NFF Social Media

You can also stay up to date with news and information via the NFF’s social media pages. Find us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter, or become a member of our LinkedIn group.

 

Royal Navy Website - The Community pages on the Royal Navy Website provides a wealth of information and links covering a vast range of issues. If you cannot find what you are looking for on our website, the Community pages may be able to point you in the right direction. Click here to visit the website.

HIVE e-newsletter

The Royal Navy’s HIVE produce a weekly e-newsletter that provides local and national news. Click here to contact your local HIVE and subscribe to their newsletter.

Navy News - Click here to get up to date news on Naval Service Life from the online version of the popular monthly news publication. Alternatively you can buy a paper copy from most newsagents or subscribe to become a regular reader. Look out for the NFF's regular contribution to the magazine.

Globe & Laurel
The Globe and Laurel is the official journal of the Royal Marines. Published six times a year, it is essential reading for past, present and future Royal Marines to keep up to date with what is happening in today’s Corps, and includes a message from the NFF. Click here to download the Globe & Laurel subscription form and set up payment.

RN & RM Reserves

Click here for key information for families of Reservists in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.