Caption: Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo finale 2025; Credit: Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
The RAF Benevolent Fund is delighted to announce that The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has generously awarded a grant of £244,493 following another outstanding Tattoo season in August 2025.
This support follows a year in which the Tattoo delivered its largest-ever combined charitable donations, reinforcing its role as a significant contributor to military welfare and wider cultural causes across the UK.
The Fund is deeply grateful for the substantial grant, which will be dedicated to enhancing its welfare delivery throughout Scotland. As with previous funding from the Tattoo, this contribution will play a vital role in supporting members of the RAF Family facing challenges such as financial hardship or ill health. The grant will enable the Fund to provide life-changing assistance, including immediate hardship relief and independent living support, helping beneficiaries – many of whom are elderly veterans – remain safe, comfortable, and independent in their own homes.
Air Commodore Simon Harper, Director of Operations at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said:
“We are incredibly thankful to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for its ongoing support and generosity. This significant grant will make a real difference to the lives of RAF veterans, service personnel and their families across Scotland. It ensures we can continue to stand alongside those who need us most, providing both immediate help and longer-term stability.”
The RAF Benevolent Fund has a long and valued relationship with the Tattoo, which has supported the Fund through multiple grants over many years. Previous donations have enabled vital welfare interventions, from essential home adaptations to financial assistance during illness, bereavement or unemployment.
Jason Barrett, Chief Executive of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said:
“2025 was a monumental year for the Tattoo, and we’re incredibly proud to see its success translated into tangible support for charitable causes, including the RAF Benevolent Fund. Our mission has always been to use the platform of the Tattoo to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. We’re delighted that this year’s grant will support vital welfare work across Scotland for members of the RAF Family.”
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo continues to celebrate its landmark achievements, having announced in January its largest-ever charitable donation programme, totalling £1.5 million to military and arts organisations following the record-breaking success of its 2025 show, The Heroes Who Made Us.
The Tattoo is a huge immersive event held annually during August and will take place between 7-29 August 2026 with a show entitled A Call to Gather. Tickets can be purchased here.
As well as the RAF Benevolent Fund, the Tattoo also supports the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldier’s Charity, and arts charities within the UK.
