Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I get involved with the scheme?
We always welcome new Volunteer Editors, and would love to hear from you if you would like to join our pool. No previous experience is necessary, just basic computer skills, a spare day a week to offer the project and plenty of enthusiasm!
Donations to this worthwhile project are gratefully received. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Storybook Wings project can contact the Storybook Wings Coordinator on 01780 783838 ext 7538
Or simply click here to donate to the RAF Association.
2. Who edits the stories?
The stories are edited by a team of volunteer editors, who attend a 2 day training course at HMP Dartmoor (provided by Storybook Dads). We also have an editing suite at RAF Wittering where the Storybook Wings Coordinator edits stories. We have an overflow facility from Storybook Dads, so any stories we receive beyond our capacity are sent to them for editing. All edited stories are then sent to the Storybook Wings Co-ordinator for quality control purposes and sent by post to the children.
3. What happens if the recording gets lost in the post or if the recording is unusable?
If a recording is lost in the post, we will always ask for the recordings to be made again if possible, and will edit the stories as usual..
We request confirmation that a CD has arrived at the family home. If a CD gets lost between RAF Wittering and the delivery address we can simply print a new CD and resend. We keep all original recordings and edited stories on file.
Our editing software is extremely good, and we are usually able to edit out mistakes and background noise etc. However, if we receive a recording that is unusable we notify the station and ask for another recording.
4. My child’s favourite story isn’t on your list. Can I still record it?
Due to copyright restrictions, we are only able to edit recordings for stories we have permission to use. Our story list is extensive, and we are always working to increase it to include more stories.
Remember, it isn’t just stories and nursery rhymes we will edit; you can record personal messages to your children, or even a story you have written yourself!
5. How do I make a good recording?
Click here for recording guidelines.
6. What does it cost?
Nothing! The Storybooks are completely free to serving personnel and their families.
"The CD was absolutely fabulous; it brought a few tears to my eyes; it was just wonderful and I am sure the children will treasure this for many years to come."
7. I'm serving in the RAF and my station isn’t on the project - can I still be involved?
There are recorders currently sited in 30 RAF stations (see exactly where on the 'Take Part' page), including Kandahar and most recently at RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands. If you don't have a recorder at your station then there should be one at a station nearby. If your station doesn't have a recorder but you feel that it has sufficient personnel going on detachments that it could justify having one, and you would like to volunteer to become a recording coordinator at your station, please contact the Storybook Wings Coordinator on 01780 783838 ext 7538.
If you or your partner is already on deployment in Afghanistan, remember that Storybook Wings has a recorder in Kandahar via Storybook Soldiers (Army project) and they will do their best not to turn anyone away; Storybook Wings will edit all recordings made by RAF personnel on these recorders.
8. What is the history of the project?
Storybook Wings is based on the storybook model created by the Storybook Dads team at HMP Dartmoor.
Storybook Dads started out in 2002 and is run by a team of full time members of staff, volunteers and prisoners. The on-site editing suite produces both audio and video material. Storybook Dads, (including Storybook Mums), for both mothers and fathers, aims to “maintain family ties and facilitate learning for prisoners and their children through the provision of story CDs”.
Storybook Dads provides comprehensive training for the Storybook Wings volunteer editors, and offers continuing support to the project by way of refresher training courses for existing volunteers, as well as a quality control service.
More information can be found at www.storybookdads.org.uk
The Storybook Alliance
As well as our ongoing relationship with Storybook Dads the Storybook Wings project is now part of The Storybook Alliance, established in 2008. The Alliance includes representatives from Storybook Dads, Storybook Soldiers, Storybook Wings, Storybook Links (a standalone RAF project based at Kirton in Lindsey and RAF Scampton) and Storybook Waves, a project run by the Royal Navy and based at the Naval Education Centre in Yeovilton.
Storybook Soldiers
Storybook Soldiers is a storybook project operated by the Army. The project was set up at the beginning of 2007 and operates from Candahar Barracks at Tidworth. The Storybook Soldiers project works closely with the Storybook Wings team to facilitate recordings by RAF personnel where Storybook Soldiers recorders exist.
More information can be found at www.storybooksoldiers.co.uk
9. What will the finished product look like?
Below are two of our selection of finished personalised CD covers:
