Families of serving RAF personnel and veterans in Gloucestershire who are finding life tough will be offered unique training to help them identify, and deal with, the symptoms of poor mental wellbeing.

The Royal Air Forces Association, the charity that supports the welfare of the RAF family, is offering mental wellbeing awareness training at venues across the UK, including Cheltenham.

The initiative, named Finding It Tough?, is open to all RAF veterans and their families, plus partners, parents, siblings and children (over 18) of anyone serving in the RAF, as well as anyone working on an RAF station (eg MOD civil servants and defence contractors).

The specially designed training aims to equip people to be more resilient to life's pressures. It will also help people to offer support to others struggling with mental wellbeing issues, and to signpost them to organisations that may be able to help.

Air Marshal Sir Baz North, president of the RAF Association, said: "The continuing stigma around mental wellbeing issues is something which must be addressed in all walks of life. The free courses that we are offering are a vital step towards this.

"These courses will help people to identify the characteristics and traits associated with poor mental wellbeing so that timely and supportive action can be taken."

Training sessions will be delivered on various dates in Cheltenham, with the first starting on Wednesday 22 April at the Jury's Inn, on Gloucester Road.

For more information and to book a place on one of the mental wellbeing awareness courses, visit www.rafa.org.uk/finding-it-tough/