In addition, we provide youth workers on a large number of stations, supporting eight to 18- year-olds, and we are in the process, with the children’s charity 4Children, of extending this through the provision of Ben Clubs, which provides support to five to eight-year-olds.
Relationship support To support personnel and their families prior to experiencing relationship difficulties, the Fund (with some Libor funding) launched Building Stronger Families, a free online course which gives users the skills and knowledge to deal with common relationship issues. Single people can register online and those in a relationship can register separately or do the course together. This course is in addition to the free Relate counselling sessions the Fund already offers. We also provide heavily subsidised, confidential mediation support. Your PSF staff will be able to help with further information, or simply look on our website.
Providing a welcome break The Fund’s Seaside Cottages in Rustington, West Sussex, provide a welcome opportunity for Service families and couples or friends to get away and spend valuable time together. To meet the growing demand the Fund has recently renovated two new apartments close by which will double the Cottages’ capacity. The feedback is that the facilities are excellent and we want as many people to benefit as possible. You can book accommodation on the Fund’s website; places are allocated to those with the highest welfare need.
Support for Real People The Fund is privileged to help people who are in need, on a daily basis. Stuart Robinson was seriously injured in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2013. He lost both legs in the explosion and with a young family needed extra support. We gave Stuart a specially adapted trike and part-funded major works and an extension to his home, which will allow him to live more comfortably.
Stuart says: “I don’t like asking for help but you can’t do everything on your own. I was always quite active, playing rugby and football and the trike allows me to get out and also spend time with my son George outdoors. It’s been really important for me to be able to do the things with him that I could before I was injured.
“The RAF Benevolent Fund has been there for my family through the hardest time. I was aware of their work but, of course, you never think you’re going to need them – it’s been reassuring knowing they are at the end of a phone whenever I have needed them.”
Not all of our support is for people who were injured on operations, far from it. If you or your family need support, then approach your Chief Clerk or SSAFA worker or anyone else providing welfare support on your station. They can help and advise you and if we can help, we will do all we can. We are proud to have helped so many people in the RAF Family in need last year, and want to do the same this year. Please do contact your station welfare staff to navigate your way to the most appropriate support for you, or look at our website.
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