Health & Wellbeing | 33
Mindfulness pilot to be extended for all RAF personnel
All RAF personnel – regular and reserve – will be able to access free mindfulness training thanks to the RAF’s leading welfare charity, the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Personnel will be able to sign up to use Headspace, an online app, and be given full access to all its packages, with the aim of encouraging them to practise mindfulness for one 10-minute session each day.
The app takes users through a number of questions to establish the goals they are hoping to reach with meditation, such as better sleep or improved focus. It also includes sessions tailored for use at particular times of day like morning, or evening, or while running, commuting or even on holiday.
Air Commodore Paul Hughesdon, Director of Welfare and Policy at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “The pilot for this scheme was incredibly successful. Initially we hoped 250 people would sign up but within two weeks all these access codes had been given out, so we extended the numbers to add another 100 in.
“This clearly shows an appetite and a need for such a scheme within the Royal Air Force. As the RAF’s oldest friend and having stood side by side with the Service for almost 100 years, the Fund understands only too well the stresses and strains an RAF career can have on day- to-day life for serving personnel.
“We hope Headspace will help servicemen and women find a few moments of quiet to focus on their mental wellbeing each day. I have used the app and it really does have an increasingly positive effect as you progress through the sessions. OK, so finding 10 minutes every day takes a bit of practice, but it is not that long and the meditations really do help to improve mental wellbeing.”
From the trial, nine out of 10 of those asked said Headspace had had a positive impact on their wellbeing and they would like to continue using it. A further 97% said they found Headspace easy or very easy overall, while 98% said they would recommend it to a colleague.
The scheme is accessible for all RAF personnel from 29 November 2018; to register your interest simply email
headspace@rafbf.org.uk
RAF personnel can sign up to use free mindfulness app. Photo: RAF Benevolent Fund
raf-ff.org.uk | Winter 2018 | ENVOY
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