FOREWORD
FOREWORD BY I
CONTROLLER RAF BENEVOLENT FUND AIR MARSHAL CHRIS NICKOLS
am delighted to be invited to write this foreword. The RAF Benevolent Fund is at the heart of the RAF Family and the opportunity to financially support the Association running the
Families Federation’s contract is an important part of the work we do.
Formed in 1919, and now the RAF’s leading welfare charity, the RAF Benevolent Fund continues to adapt and modernise its support to the RAF Family, aiding serving and former members of the RAF, as well as their partners and dependants, in their time of need.
In addition to our help for RAF veterans and their partners, the RAF Benevolent Fund spent more than £3.21 million last year on behalf of serving personnel, funding a host of services and private grants to individuals (whether Regular or Reservist). We provide childcare centres and the Airplay Youth Programme, as well as Airplay Play Parks and games areas. We fund Relate counselling services, which provide free and speedy access to help with relationship issues, and financially support Citizens Advice Bureaux near stations to help with money problems and similar issues. The RAF Benevolent Fund has also provided contact houses, a non-alcoholic facility and other smaller facilities. We run the RAF Dependants Fund, the Dependants (Income) Trust, and the RAF Disabled Holiday Trust. We also offer respite breaks for serving families at our two seaside cottages in West Sussex.
The RAF Benevolent Fund is acutely aware of the operational and organisational stresses and strains that those who serve in the RAF are placed under, and we are intent on trying to help where we can. As you would expect, we do all of this work in close collaboration with the RAF and we look forward to the results of the recent Strategic Community Needs Analysis to see how we can help in the future.
But whilst the chain of command is a vital part of our engagement with the RAF, so is the RAF Families Federation. The issues that you raise with them, the problems that you have, the views that you have formed and the ideas for the future that you contribute are all vital in allowing the Federation to speak on your behalf. You speak, and we listen!
So, please do keep engaging with the Federation. Complete the questionnaires. Answer the quick surveys. And be involved. Your voice is important and we are listening. And whilst the Federation is “In Your Corner”, the RAF Benevolent Fund is proud to be your Fund and at the Heart of the RAF!
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Envoy Autumn 2014
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