Caseworker spotlight
Martina is a Welfare Support Executive for the Fund, supporting on beneficiaries in Devon and Cornwall. She served as an RAF Medic for 12 years and is studying part-time with the Open University for a degree in Health and Social Care.
Q: What is it you do at the Fund?
A: My role involves carrying out holistic casework for beneficiaries who have approached the Fund for support. I am also a Wellbeing Champion for my colleagues within the Fund.
Q: What does a normal day or week look like for you?
A: Not one day is the same, which is a joy of the job. My days vary between completing in-person meetings with beneficiaries, supporting those I’m in contact with, as well as attending various events held throughout Devon and Cornwall to raise awareness of the Fund.
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: Changing lives one application at a time! I love that I work for an organisation whose supporters are so generous and passionate and allow us to do so much. Once all the information is supplied about a beneficiary needing help, we are often able to support them in numerous ways so that they can move on with their lives with a little less stress. For RAF veterans, it often gives them a sense of togetherness again and that the Fund will support them whenever it is needed.
Q: Is there a case you’ve worked on recently that really stuck with you?
A: I supported a beneficiary who got in touch as her husband had died and she was falling behind with mortgage and priority bills payments. This wasn’t a quick turnover as there were many layers of support and, due to her grief, at times it was difficult to get the information required to submit an application. In time, I was able to identify how we could help her. This included helping her contact her mortgage provider to arrange a plan moving forward, alleviating some stress, and the Fund was able to make a grant to support her with clothing, priority debt, and day-to-day needs. Feedback received was this was the most beneficial as she felt she had the resource to go out and interact with people and have normal conversations and try to reclaim some of her own identity following the death of her husband and her own ill health.
Q: Is there anything you would like to say to those who are thinking about, or have already left a gift in their Will to the Fund?
A: If you have already left a gift to the Fund in your Will then THANK YOU! No matter the size of the donation it will truly have a lasting impact on someone’s life and sense of self-worth. If you are thinking of leaving a donation, then believe that through thorough assessment and due diligence it will be used in the most effective way to support those in the RAF Family.