Fund and One YMCA launch 2025 Airplay Annual Review

The RAF Benevolent Fund and One YMCA have launched the latest Airplay Annual Review for 2025.

The 2025 Review highlights the impact of the Fund’s national youth programme Airplay, delivered by One YMCA. Airplay marked it’s fifteenth year in 2025, supporting young people with a safe, consistent, and stimulating programme of activities across 24 RAF stations and online through Airplay Connect.

The recent report found that across the year, there were over 35,100 attendances at Airplay activities, with 3,758 sessions delivered and 6,944 hours of activities. It found that 99% of members feel that Airplay is a safe place for them and 99% of members agree that at Airplay, they feel accepted and can be themselves.

It revealed that 96% of members agree that Airplay has helped them to settle in when they have moved to a new station, as well as 96% of parents who feel that Airplay is helping their child to be more confident.

Youth voice and self-expression are central to Airplay, with regular Youth Forums giving young people a platform to be heard. The programme also offers a Young Leaders initiative. In 2025, the training event at RAF Brize Norton for 28 participants aged 11–17, focused on building leadership, teamwork and confidence.

One young person who took part said: “It was an amazing opportunity to develop my leadership skills and make friends from another base. The training was very insightful and taught us key skills a Young Leader needs to be effective such as communication and leadership.”

A parent at RAF Leeming said: “Airplay is a fantastic place for my child to meet other kids and feel comfortable, especially when their dad is away on deployment. He can speak with other kids who are dealing with the same things. It gives him confidence, especially during a time of uncertainty.”

A parent at MOD Boscombe Down said: “Airplay is absolutely brilliant – I have four children who attend, one who has additional needs, and she loves it. Without Airplay she would not socialise. It gives her an amazing opportunity to do something, and the staff support her.”

Air Commodore Simon Harper, Director of Operations at the Fund said: “We are proud at the Fund of our continued evolution of our support for serving families, recognising the changing challenges they face. Airplay remains a vital and uplifting lifeline for parents, children, and young people across the RAF Family. The collective success of Airplay, the value it delivers and the positive impact it has on our young people and families, are truly significant and continue to strengthen wellbeing, resilience, and connection across our community.”

Guy Foxell, Chief Executive Officer of One YMCA said: “The importance of stability, belonging and connection for RAF children and young people has never been greater. Airplay continues to meet this need with warmth, professionalism and impact. I extend my sincere thanks to the youth workers, managers and volunteers who bring Airplay to life on every station, as well as to the funders and supporters who continue to invest in this vital programme.”

You can read the full Airplay Annual Review 2025.