Youth counselling service launched for RAF youngsters

The RAF Benevolent Fund has launched a new specialist counselling service to offer additional emotional support to young people within the RAF Family.

Previously the Fund's Listening and Counselling Service was only available to adults aged 18+, but the new Youth Counselling Service will be available to children and teens aged 11 to 18.

Recent research suggests that one in eight children may have experienced a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression. The service offers support on a range of wellbeing and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, and other concerns such as family change, bullying, sexuality, and academic pressure.

Caroline Fielding, Wellbeing Services Executive at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: "This year has been tough for many of us, including children and young people. Our welfare provision is led by research to meet the needs of the RAF Family so I'm delighted we have been able to expand our service to include these young people."

The launch of the Youth Counselling Service follows a number of other initiatives that the Fund has launched or grown to help support members of the RAF Family throughout the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

Partners and spouses of RAF personnel can now get memberships for online mindfulness platform Headspace free of charge. Previously this service was available to serving personnel only.

The Fund has also introduced a 24-hour helpline for veterans and serving personnel, as well as their partners, who may be in need of emotional support.

In addition to this an online mental wellbeing zone has been created on our website where RAF veterans and personnel can find advice, support and find out where to go for more help.