Growing up as part of a military family provides children and young people with a number of unique challenges and opportunities. At the Fund we support children growing up on RAF stations through a range of support programmes. We aim to provide a safe place for children to spend time with their peers, develop skills and enjoy a wide range of activities.
Airplay
Our youth support programme Airplay supports children aged eight to 18. We provide state of the art facilities that include our play parks as well as range social activities.
As part our Airplay programme we have also set up Ben Clubs, which provide fun activities for children aged five to seven. Ben Clubs enable parents to feel safe in the knowledge that their children have a secure place to spend time with other youngsters from RAF families.
Children and young people aged between five and 18 can also access counselling through our specialist counselling service. Our trained counsellors can help young people to manage issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems and family breakdown.
Airplay is delivered by One YMCA, part of the YMCA Federation and a leading Youth Work organisation.
What is Airplay?
There are two main elements to the Airplay programme.
Airplay Youth Support: Airplay is delivered at 24 stations across the country. We provide safe, supervised activities for children and young people aged five to 18 through a network of trained youth workers. This includes our Ben Clubs which are aimed at children aged five to seven.
Airplay Connect: A safe and secure digital resource for all RAF children and young people to access and enjoy. Airplay Connect allows Station Youth workers to reach children who might live away from RAF stations or even overseas and engage them in activities with their peers in the RAF Community.
Airplay is delivered by One YMCA, part of the YMCA Federation and a leading Youth Work organisation, which includes our digital Airplay Connect service, our Ben Clubs which provide fun activities for children aged five to seven and our childcare centres which cater for babies and toddlers within a nurturing environment. We provide state of the art facilities that include our play parks as well as range of social activities.
BenPlay and BenParenting
The Fund provides a range of family services available at RAF Stations across the UK, including the BenPlay and BenParenting programme for parents, carers and children from 0-5 years. The scheme aims to enhance parenting skills, build knowledge on children’s developmental needs, and also provides activities to stimulate and support the development of babies and toddlers.
Some of the areas of focus for the programme include post-natal support, making friends with other new parents, first aid for babies – and bonding sessions which run outside of main work hours so either parent can attend. It also includes emotional wellbeing for parents, emotional and social development for babies, baby communication and language, play, music and the arts.
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