"A grant towards occupational therapy gave us the answers we needed for our autistic son"

Because of our generous supporters, RAF families will never have to face life’s difficult moments alone.

When Laura and Matthew Osling’s little boy, Nye, began struggling with severe behavioural difficulties, they faced a world of worry. Confused, exhausted and desperate for answers, they didn’t know where to turn. But thanks to your support, the RAF Benevolent Fund were able to offer the right help at the right time.

Today, Nye is happy and thriving, just like any little boy should be.

When Nye first started nursery, Laura and Matthew were at a loss. Their two-year-old son’s unpredictable outbursts left staff concerned and his parents overwhelmed.

Laura recalled being called in daily to complete incident reports. She said: “Every day I was being called in to complete incident forms. We didn’t understand what was causing Nye’s outbursts, and he couldn’t explain them himself. We had no family nearby, and it affected our older son, Gethin, too. It was heartbreaking.”

The Osling family’s RAF roots run deep. Former Chief Technician Matthew proudly served for 26 years before leaving in 2024, while Laura now works at RAF Brize Norton. Like many RAF families, they’d heard of the Fund but never imagined they would one day be seeking our help.

As Laura searched for answers, she came across information about Sensory Processing Disorder and discovered that a specialist occupational therapy assessment could provide clarity. But this vital assessment was not available through the NHS. The cost felt overwhelming. That’s when your support made all the difference.

Encouraged by a friend, Laura contacted the Fund. Thanks to donations from compassionate supporters like you, the family received a grant to cover the full cost of the assessment. The results were life-changing.

For Nye and his family, the results unlocked a key path to a brighter future. For the first time, Laura and Matthew had clarity. The detailed report not only explained Nye’s behaviours but also provided practical strategies to help him manage the world around him.

“It was such a relief to have answers,” said Laura. “The report explained Nye’s behaviours and gave us practical tools to help him. The Fund’s support gave us hope and gave Nye the chance to flourish.”

With understanding came confidence. With guidance came structure. And with your kindness came a new sense of hope for the entire family.

Today, at 12 years old, Nye is thriving. With the right support in place at school and at home, his world has opened up – and so has his family’s. The daily distress and uncertainty that once dominated their lives have been replaced with reassurance and optimism about the future.

The assessment was so valuable as it gave the Oslings the answers they needed to make sure that their little boy can grow up feeling understood, supported and valued. This has restored their confidence as parents and strengthened their family.

Laura shared a heartfelt message to supporters: “We never thought we’d need the Fund, but the support we received was invaluable. The RAF Benevolent Fund truly changes lives, and I’ll never forget the difference it made to our family.”

Your support means families like the Oslings never have to struggle alone.