News

The Royal Observer Corps Benevolent Fund hands over the reins to the RAF Benevolent Fund

The RAF Benevolent Fund is delighted to announce the Royal Observer Corps Benevolent Fund has been taken under its wing and will be absorbed by the RAF’s leading welfare charity.

The merging of the two charities builds on the close partnerships and excellent relationships developed over several years.

A small but significant event to mark the official handover took place Bentley Priory, the spiritual home and headquarters of the Royal Observer Corps from July 1936.

Former ROC veterans eligible for help from the ROC Benevolent Fund will now be supported by the RAF Benevolent Fund and will be entitled to the additional welfare initiatives the Fund provides.

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As 10 unique Aston Martin Vanquish S Red Arrows cars roll off the production line, one rolls into Canary Wharf – and you could win it!

The RAF Benevolent Fund launched the exciting raffle to win the limited edition car earlier this year. The car is worth £275,000 and tickets to win it are just £20, with all proceeds going towards the RAF’s leading welfare charity in support of the RAF Family, past and present.

The car will visit Canary Wharf in November as part of the area’s Remembrance Day commemorations this year – sited on Reuters Plaza. Plus members of the Red Arrows team including pilots and Red 1 Sqn Ldr David Montenegro and ‘Blues’ – engineers and other support staff – will be visiting the car on November 1 to help sell tickets.

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Five-year-old boy donates birthday money to RAF veterans

Henry Conway, who turns six on 31 October, decided to give his birthday money away after seeing an RAF charity’s advert on television. The RAF Benevolent Fund’s latest TV ad, titled Show Your Pride, features Battle of Britain veteran Stan Hartill, double amputee Stuart Robinson and widow Jacqui Thompson.
Watching with his parents, Leo and Elizabeth, Henry was immediately moved by the ad.

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Don’t get in a pickle – join the RAF100 Cookbook high-fryers!

No need to wing it when it comes to creating a culinary masterpiece – get yourself a copy of the RAF100 Cookbook instead!

Researched, cooked, photographed and written by current or former servicemen and women, and dedicated, non-serving enthusiasts, the countries visited have all hosted an RAF presence in some way since the Service was founded in 1918.

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Red, White & Blue Day 2017

Last Friday, 6th October, marked the Charity’s annual Red, White & Blue day in schools. The annual fundraising initiative, which raises vital funds for ourselves, The RAF Benevolent Fund and The Royal Navy, and Royal Marines Charity, helps us to promote awareness of the difficulties faced by Service families.

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Letter from Air Vice-Marshal David Murray Controller Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Recently the country rallied behind the brave ex-service men and women as they once again represented our country and battled for Gold at the Invictus Games in Toronto. It has been great to see our veterans getting the attention they deserve and shining a light on some of the issues they have faced since leaving the military.

If there is one issue that stood out to me at this year’s Games, it was mental health. I was so impressed by the number of athletes suffering from PTSD who stepped up and were willing to share their stories, which has not always been the case.

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Building Stronger Families hits milestone after helping more than 300 families

A free online course designed to help RAF couples deal with the challenges of family life has hit a milestone after its 300th family reached out for help.

Building Stronger Families, launched by the RAF Benevolent Fund with the help of national relationship charity Relate, is tailored to the needs of RAF families to give couples the skills and knowledge they need to deal with common relationship issues, including communication, conflict and family life.

The RAF Benevolent Fund has funded Relate for nine years to provide free counselling sessions for those who feel professional help would be a benefit.

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Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund appoints John Trampleasure as Director of Fundraising and Communications

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity, is pleased to announce that John Trampleasure has joined its senior leadership team as Director of Fundraising and Communications effective Monday 2 October.

John has led an exciting 25-year career in fundraising and communications within the third sector, working for organisations such as Shelter, World Animal Protection and most recently, Ambitious About Autism.

In his role, John will lead a team of more than 30 staff across RAF Benevolent Fund headquarters and regional offices as the organisation gets ready to roll out a new three-year strategic plan led by new Controller Air Vice-Marshal David Murray, who joined the Fund last year.

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Relationship counselling proving effective in reducing depression

Tuesday 10 October marks World Mental Health Day

Newly released statistics from the RAF Benevolent Fund have revealed that a significant number of RAF personnel attending relationship counselling report that their mental well-being improved following the completion of counselling.

The data comes from the most recent evaluation report of the Fund’s counselling programme, which is offered in partnership with Relate to all serving RAF personnel, free of charge. The service, which the charity funds to the tune of more than £100k per annum, has helped thousands of couples since it began nine years ago and more than 65 couples have accessed the counselling in the first half of 2017 alone.

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How to Celebrate Red, White and Blue Day

Red, White and Blue Day is a national fundraising campaign for schools that raises money in support of the RAF Benevolent Fund, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. The money raised is split between the three long-established charities which all have close ties with our Armed Forces.

This year’s campaign will take place on Friday 6 October, with thousands of school children across the UK dressing up in red, white and blue in support of the men and women of the Armed Forces.

So, how can your school get involved in this year’s campaign?

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