At the Heart of the RAF Family Founded a year after the Royal Air Force, the RAF Benevolent Fund has a long and proud history of supporting serving personnel, past and present, and their families. We’re there for any member of the RAF Family who is in need of financial, practical or emotional support – from the youngest child to the oldest veteran.
In 2015 we spent more than £18m assisting 41,500 members of the RAF Family with a wide range of issues from childcare and relationship difficulties, to injury, disability and bereavement. With over 74% of the RAF Family over the age of 65, much of our support goes on the older veteran community, but we’re also there for the serving RAF and their families.
We know that Service life brings many challenges for RAF families; frequent moves, extended periods away from home, sometimes with little notice and living in remote locations. We also understand the new security issues facing RAF personnel. In 2015 the Fund spent £3.37m supporting serving personnel, whether single, married or in a partnership, and their families in need.
Supporting RAF children and families To support RAF children, who face their own unique pressures, the Fund introduced its Airplay programme, which has three key components. The first is the provision of childcare centres on or near RAF stations, providing the best possible service at the lowest possible cost for the area. Where mums and dads experience particular problems paying their childcare costs, the Fund can consider providing short term support to alleviate financial distress.
The Fund has also built or refurbished a large number of multi-use games areas and play parks across the RAF estate, which stations and the DIO should be maintaining to a high level; if this is not the case, please tell your CDO and SCSO.
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www.raf-ff.org.uk
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