RAF Benevolent Fund expands Holiday Provision pilot for RAF families

The RAF Benevolent Fund has confirmed that its new Holiday Provision, piloted in summer 2025, will be extended and expanded across more RAF units in 2026 after receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from stations and families.

The pilot, developed in response to a growing need identified by the RAF’s People and Families team, and colleagues across RAF units, helped serving personnel and their families access affordable, high-quality activities during the school holidays. Five RAF stations took part in the initial programme - Odiham, Valley, Lossiemouth, Coningsby and High Wycombe. Across these locations, 255 children from 139 families were supported, using a range of local, flexible provision.

At RAF Odiham, the Kings Camp programme benefitted 42 children from RAF families. A £5,000 grant from the RAF Benevolent Fund eased the financial burden on RAF families, making the two-week programme more accessible to those who might otherwise have struggled to afford this during the holidays.

The funding supported increased social engagement, improved mental wellbeing and stronger family relationships. Parents reported reduced stress, better routines for children and more opportunities to connect with other families on station. The provision was particularly valuable for families experiencing deployment, limited local support networks, or financial pressure.

Feedback gathered from participating families across the pilot demonstrated its impact:
•    86% said they would have found it difficult or impossible to arrange holiday childcare without the programme
•    90% said it made them feel more supported by the RAF
•    88% said it helped them perform their roles more effectively

Importantly, the provision also contributed to improved financial resilience for families and supported continued employment for partners and spouses during the school holidays.

Following this success, the RAF Benevolent Fund will increase the provision in 2026, extending it across other RAF stations – as well as the inclusion of an overseas unit. This expansion is expected to support a significantly greater number of RAF families and further strengthen wellbeing across the serving community.

An RAF spouse said: "My partner is currently deployed and I have no help with childcare. I work 20 hours a week during school hours, so it would have been impossible for me to continue working without these places. Having two children needing places becomes extremely expensive, so having the subsidy from the Fund has been such a weight lifted."

Another member of the serving community said: "As working parents in a military family, this programme felt like a very welcome 'we see you and we've got you' kind of message from the Fund. The relief that we could affordably book the kids into two weeks of holiday provision was palpable, allowing us to use our limited leave together as a family. Our children have also benefitted from structure, healthy activities and independent socialising."

Maria Lyle, Associate Director of Operations at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “This pilot has highlighted the real difference that accessible holiday provision can make to RAF families. We are proud to be expanding this support in 2026, ensuring more families feel supported, connected, and able to thrive, even during the most challenging periods of service life.”