Speaking Up
The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (the Fund) sets the highest standards in everything it does. We hope that we get it right.
However, we understand there may be times when our efforts fall short and when this happens, we want to know so we can address your concerns as quickly as possible.
We are actively committed to promoting and embedding a culture of openness so that all those who engage with us can have confidence that they will be heard if they Speak Up.
We will ensure that anyone who Speaks Up can do so without fear of victimisation or unfair treatment (including protecting the rights of those, where applicable, under the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) 1998). We will not tolerate such behaviours and will act as appropriate to eradicate it.
Anyone who engages with the Fund can use this policy to raise something that has happened in the past, is happening now or where you think something may happen in the future.
You can raise the following via our website:
- Positive feedback about any aspect of the Fund, its staff and volunteers and activities.
- Suggestions for improvement(s) where things are good, but you feel they could be even better.
- Where things have gone wrong / you are unhappy (complaints), so we can see if we can put them right, learn lessons and identify improvements for the future.
- For all serious concerns (‘whistleblowing’) that have happened in the past, are happening now, or could happen in the future so we can stop or limit potential harm.
Want to speak up?
If you want to Speak Up you can do so with or without confidentiality or if you would prefer, anonymously (serious concerns only). These options are available via all our contact methods below.
By clicking the button below, you'll be able to fill in one of our four forms to:
- Give positive feedback
- Suggest an improvement/s
- Tell us things have gone wrong / Make a complaint
- Raise a serious concern (whistleblowing)
Talk with us
If you wish to talk with us, you can call:
- Our named contact (if you have one)
- Our Helpline: 0300 102 1919
- Our Head office: 0207 580 8343
If you want to raise serious concerns verbally, please ask to speak to the Head of Governance or any member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT).
Please note that for training and monitoring purposes, your call may be recorded.
In writing
You can write to us at our Head Office: 67 Portland Place, London, W1B 1AR.
Please mark your letter ‘‘private and confidential’. You can address it to the Head of Governance, any member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT).
If you would prefer, you can write to the Senior Independent Trustee (SIT), who is a Fund Trustee. They are available to staff and stakeholders who wish to raise serious concerns, but where contact through other channels has failed to resolve the matter or when such contact is inappropriate.
You can email us via speak-up@rafbf.org.uk. This mailbox is monitored by the Head of Governance, or if you would prefer, you can email the SIT: patrick.aylmer@rafbf.org.uk
If you contact us via letter or email, it would be helpful if you could include:
- who you are and how to contact you (in case we need more information, unless you wish to remain anonymous) and whether you are seeking confidentiality;
- what you are Speaking Up about;
- as much information as possible (i.e. dates, times, names of people involved, what happened / could happen etc); and
- what outcome (if any) you are seeking
What happens next?
All Speaking Up will be logged and passed on to the appropriate department to enable review, acknowledgement and consideration of next steps as outlined in our Speaking Up process, which is attached below.
Spoken up but unsatisfied? Who to contact next?
If you have Spoken Up but remain unsatisfied the document attached below advises who you can contact next.