Month of the Military Child: How Fund supports RAF children and young people

As April marks Month of the Military Child, the RAF Benevolent Fund shines a light on the vital emotional, practical and wellbeing support it provides to thousands of children and young people growing up with the unique challenges of Service life.

From frequent moves and disrupted schooling to long periods of separation during deployments, RAF families face pressures that can impact children’s wellbeing, confidence, and stability.

Over the last decade, the Fund has significantly expanded its dedicated support for children and young people. This growth continues to be shaped by further insights from its 2025 Meeting the Needs research. Today, this support includes financial grants, early-years provision, counselling for mental wellbeing, School Holiday Provision, and Airplay – the Fund’s flagship youth programme. Additionally, over the last 15 years, the Fund has invested millions of pounds in childcare centres and play parks across RAF stations that provide support and benefit to children and young people every day.

Financial and early-years grants

Since 2016, the Fund has provided £620,000 in Children’s Needs Grants, supporting families with essential costs such as childcare, educational needs and unexpected wellbeing expenses. The Fund assists both serving families and veterans who are struggling to afford services crucial to their children’s wellbeing. Whether stepping in to help with childcare when circumstances change, or supporting educational needs through its partner, the Alexander Duckham Memorial Trust, the Fund works to ensure children and young people receive the support they need.

Support for early-years has also expanded significantly. Funding for BenPlay and BenParenting – which provide early years play activities and parenting support across RAF stations – more than doubled last year, enabling more families with 0–5 year olds to access high quality support at key developmental stages.

Emotional wellbeing and counselling

Demand for counselling continues to rise, with the number of children and young people accessing the Fund’s service more than doubling since 2022. Among those users surveyed in 2025, 86 per cent reported improvements in their wellbeing, and clinical assessments showed clear reductions in stress and emotional difficulties.

School Holiday Provision

The Fund’s School Holiday Provision Programme, launched as a pilot in 2025 across five RAF stations, supported 255 children from 139 families. The impact was clear: 87 per cent of parents said arranging childcare would have been difficult without it, 98 per cent felt more supported by the RAF community, and 97 per cent reported that the programme improved their ability to work during the holidays and enhanced their overall quality of life. With 99 per cent of parents wanting the programme to continue, the Fund will now extend provision across 22 more units and formations in 2026–27.

Airplay

Airplay – delivered in partnership with YMCA – continues to be the RAF Benevolent Fund’s most far-reaching children’s service, offering safe, supervised spaces and structured youth activities for 5–18-year-olds across RAF stations. 

The latest 2025 survey results show that Airplay remains a hugely valued source of stability for RAF families. Ninety-six per cent of children said they feel safe at Airplay, and around three-quarters reported it helps them keep in touch with friends during moves and periods of parental absence.

Nearly 90 per cent of young people said Airplay has helped them feel more confident, and over 90 per cent said it enables them to make new friends. These findings reflect the continued importance of Airplay in helping children settle, build friendships, and feel supported amid the pressures of military life.

Parents and members describe the programme as transformative, particularly during deployments. One parent shared: “Airplay gives my children stability during all the unpredictable moments of RAF life. They feel safe, they make friends quickly, and it helps them cope when their dad is away.”

A young Airplay attendee said: "I’ve moved so many times, but Airplay is the place I always settle fastest. It helps me make friends and feel confident again."

Simon Harper, Director of Operations at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: "RAF children show incredible resilience in the face of the pressures of Service life – whether coping with frequent moves, disrupted routines, or long periods of separation. Our priority is to ensure they have the stability, confidence and support they need to thrive.

"Over the past decade, we’ve significantly expanded our programmes, strengthening early‑years support through BenPlay and BenParenting, enhancing access to mental health services, and growing our School Holiday Provision and Airplay youth programme. Together, these initiatives now reach children and young people at every stage of their development. This Month of the Military Child, we’re celebrating their strength and resilience, and renewing our commitment to ensuring every RAF child feels supported, connected, and valued."