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RAFBF
Air Vice-Marshal David Murray
Chief Executive, RAF Benevolent Fund
will also be marking our 100th birthday
2019 is going to be an exciting year for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. Fresh from a year celebrating the foundation of the RAF itself, we
The fact these commemorations follow on so closely to each other is testament to the history the RAF Benevolent Fund shares with the RAF, having been stood side by side with the RAF Family, every step of the way, whenever you’ve needed support.
In the last year, the Fund spent more than £19 Million on the RAF Family, including £5.5million on serving personnel and their families.
From the very first airman who needed help to pay for a roof over his head as he transitioned from forces life back to civvy street, to the thousands of serving and retired personnel we help every year, our mission has remained the same – to ensure no member of the RAF Family faces adversity alone.
As the RAF has evolved and the challenges its personnel face have changed, so has the support and welfare services we provide. Following in-depth research into the needs of the serving RAF community, we launched a new mindfulness service, giving personnel free access to Headspace. Since then, more
STANDING SIDE BY SIDE
than 700 personnel have signed up to the service.
Headspace is just one element of a raft of new services, which represent a multi-million pound investment in the wellbeing of the RAF Family. Other pilot schemes will include the introduction of station engagement workers to support personnel facing loneliness and social isolation; development of a mobile app listing all welfare services available to RAF personnel and their families; further investment in our youth support schemes Airplay and Ben Club; and seminars and workshops for spouses to develop employability skills.
In 2018, I’m pleased to report we spent more than £5.8 million supporting serving RAF personnel and their families. Specifically, for personnel based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, this included a grant in support of Families Day plus £10,000 for Ben Play and Ben Parenting activities. In addition to this, we were able to continue our Airplay and Ben Club sessions for youngsters on station, and our relationship support through Relate.
And this is just the beginning, as we look
WITH THE RA
hout
to celebrate our incredible milestone year,
building on 100 years of support, we aim
to increase our reach and help even more people doubling our beneficiary numbers to 100,000.
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But we couldn’t do it without you. Your support is at the very heart of what we do. I’d like to thank every one of you personally,
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you
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supporting the RAF Family. Last year saw
amazing support from RAF Linton-on-Ouse,
including Corporal Dave Booth who ran 100
If you serve or have
miles to mark 100 years of the RAF, raising £1,300 for the Fund and Yorkshire Universities
served with the RAF,
Air Squadron who continued their brilliant
you and your family
support raising £4,000 throughout the year.
can request help.
If you would like to get involved in marking
the Fund’s centenary and raising some money for us, there are several events you can sign up to, details on our website www. rafbf.org or speak to our regional fundraiser, Aaron Tillyer, on 07841 027494 or at aaron. tillyer@rafbf.org.uk
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Thank you.
FREE CALL 0800169 2942 rafbf.org/help
RAFBF SBS Serving.indd 5
FINANCIAL ASSISTAN WELLBEING BREAKS FAMILY AND RELATIO
Photo: Paul Foster
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