Helpline: 0300 102 1919
RAF children's letters surprise lonely veterans during lockdown
Children who attend Airplay, the Fund's youth support programme, have written to isolated elderly members of the RAF Family during the coronavirus lockdown.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – Statement from AVM Chris Elliot, Controller of the RAF Benevolent Fund
Racism, and any other form of discrimination, has no place at the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and no place in our society. The brutal death of George Floyd has shone a spotlight on racism and inequality around the world and it is timely for me to share my commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in my role as CEO/Controller at the Fund.
Press Release
RAF Coningsby personnel run 102km to celebrate 102 years of the RAF
On 30 May, four personnel from RAF Coningsby completed a fundraising challenge to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity. The team ran a combined total of 102km around the airfield to commemorate 102 years since the Royal Air Force was formed.
RAF Benevolent Fund launches wellbeing support for RAF partners
RAF partners and spouses can now access online mindfulness platform, Headspace, in a recent initiative launched by the RAF Benevolent Fund. Previously available to serving personnel only, it is now available to the partners of personnel, too.
Airplay youth support spreads its wings with launch of online platform
Airplay Digital has been launched as a resource for all RAF young people and children to enjoy. The platform, developed by the Fund's Airplay partners Action for Children, was due to be introduced later this year but has been brought forward to help children who are isolated while at home under lockdown restrictions.
RAFA Amsterdam donate €10,000 to support work at Princess Marina House
RAFA Amsterdam have donated €10,000 to help support the ongoing work at Princess Marina House, the RAF Benevolent Fund’s West Sussex respite and care centre.
The Red Arrows join us for Volunteers' Week
Longstanding friends of the Fund, the Red Arrows, have been helping us keep in touch with lonely and isolated veterans. Whilst Cpl Dan Sargent joined our Telephone Friendship Groups, Cpl Ollie Kirk has been regularly calling veteran Reg Lawrence.
Personnel walk 3,500 miles in aid of RAF Benevolent Fund and NHS Charities Together
A group of 13 servicemen and women have collectively walked 3,466 miles over the course of a month to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund and NHS Charities Together. The team are currently deployed on Operations out of 906 EAW in the United Arab Emirates, and the number of miles reflects the equivalent distance from Dubai International Airport to RAF Brize Norton.
How the Battle of Dunkirk unfolded
The Battle of Dunkirk took place between 26 May and 4 June 1940 in Dunkirk, a small town on the northern coast of France. The Allies had been losing the Battle of France on the Western Front and the now-renowned Battle of Dunkirk saw Allied forces defend and seek evacuation from Dunkirk as the German forces closed in. As part of a dangerous and daring rescue operation, around 338,000 British Expeditionary Forces (BEF) and other Allied troops were evacuated.
The RAF's hard battle to support the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk
During the Second World War, a myth began to circulate that the RAF did not do enough to protect the troops that were trapped on the beaches and the fleet of vessels trying to evacuate them.
