Fund supports new community centre at RAF Odiham

The RAF Benevolent Fund was proud to attend the opening of RAF Odiham's new Welfare and Community Centre this July. Supported through a Fund Station grant, the new Centre will provide a dedicated space for serving personnel, their families and the wider Station community.

The Welfare and Community Centre was officially opened by Air Marshal Sir ‘Baz’ North with a ribbon cutting ceremony with RAF Odiham representatives and charity supporters in attendance.

The new space has been designed to offer accessible, flexible facilities for welfare support, community groups and social activities. It will host everything from parent and baby groups and coffee mornings to children's holiday activities and courses and will also be available to hire for children’s parties and celebrations.

Wing Commander Matt Williams, RAF Odiham, said: “The real value of this community centre lies in the people who will use it. By hosting a diverse range of groups and activities, it will become a vibrant hub where individuals and families can come together, support one another and strengthen the sense of community that makes this area so special.”

Linzi Neal, Community Development Officer at RAF Odiham, said: “For a community with a high deployment rate, this centre represents stability, support, and togetherness. Its impact will be felt for years to come by the families who use it and the relationships built within it.”

Air Commodore Simon Harper, Director Operations at the Fund, said: “It was wonderful to visit the new Welfare and Community Centre at RAF Odiham and see first-hand the difference this facility will make to the lives of personnel and their families. The Fund is proud to have supported a project that offers a welcoming place to connect, access support, and foster a strong sense of community, creating benefits that will be felt for many years to come.”