FAMILIES at Oxfordshire's RAF bases can benefit from free childminder training.

Partners and spouses of personnel stationed at RAF Benson and Brize Norton are eligible to attend a course that teaches people how to become childminders.

Six RAF stations in the South East are able to offer the course thanks to a grant secured by the RAF Association, in a bid to boost employability and increase the provision of high-quality childcare at bases.

The charity, which supports the Royal Air Force community, has received £20,000 from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.

It will cover the cost of training 32 people to become Ofsted-registered childminders.

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Denitsa Hyland, welfare projects manager at the RAF Association, said: "Rising costs and limited capacity of local nurseries mean that families at these stations have difficulties accessing affordable, quality childcare.

"Recent studies indicate that a quarter of all spouses and partners of RAF personnel across the UK have experienced difficulties in finding suitable employment.

"This grant could be the first step towards a new career for many people in this situation."

Attendees will be eligible to apply for a childcare business grant from the government, once their Ofsted registration is complete, to help with the costs of setting up their own childminding business.

Similar courses were trialled by the RAF Association in 2017 and 2018 and their popularity has led to the charity securing the extra funding.

Anyone keen to take part can email welfare@rafa.org.uk.