The Royal Air Forces Association (RAF Association) is helping forces personnel injured, either on or off duty, while in the service of our country by supporting the new Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC).
The charity’s £50,000 contribution will go towards providing world class rehabilitation facilities at Stanford on Soar in Loughborough, Leicestershire.
The purpose-built £300 million centre, operated by the Ministry of Defence, has been designed to bring the treatment of the physical, functional, vocational, educational, cognitive, psychological and social rehabilitation together in one place.
Patients were transferred from the previous unit at Headley Court in Surrey in October.
RAF Association President, Air Marshal Sir Baz North, explained why the charity decided to support the project: “When people have experienced serious injuries and trauma, they and their families have huge adjustments to make to their lives. Specialist clinical rehabilitation can significantly reduce the impact of the enormous physical and psychological changes that they have to adjust to.
“As the RAF’s leading welfare charity, it is an essential part of our own work with serving personnel to help bring this project to fruition.”
The DNRC Programme was the initiative of the late 6th Duke of Westminster who led the fundraising drive with a personal founding gift of £70 million. So far £270 million has been raised via major donations from individuals, charitable foundations and businesses.
DNRC Programme Director, General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman, said: “The programme is about ensuring we have the capability to look after people who have experienced serious injury during their service. We have an opportunity to not only deliver the very best in healthcare, but also create a lasting legacy with the prospect of treating civilians on site in the future.
“We are very grateful for the support from the RAF Association and it is a very fitting reminder of the RAF’s initiative in creating the specialist rehabilitation facility at Headley Court at the end of WWII.”
Anyone wishing to support the centre can do so by visiting www.thednrc.org.uk.
Notes to editors:
Contacts
- Rachel Dalby, PR Manager, RAF Association – 0116 464 5034 or dalby@rafa.org.uk
- Joseph Doyle, PR Assistant, RAF Association – 0116 268 8755 or doyle@rafa.org.uk
About the Royal Air Forces Association
The Royal Air Forces Association (or RAF Association) is a membership organisation and registered charity that provides welfare support to the RAF family.
The Association recognises that RAF personnel and their immediate families dedicate their lives to their country, and we believe that such a sacrifice should not result in suffering, poverty or loneliness.
Whether it’s an injured airman or woman fighting to get back on their feet, a young child missing their parent away on overseas operations, or a World War II veteran needing a shoulder to lean on, we are here to help all generations of RAF personnel and their families. We also support serving families if they need us. We give practical, emotional and financial support.
Our membership of more than 72,000 includes serving RAF personnel, veterans and members of the public who want to show their support for the work that we do.
Across the UK in 2017 the Association carried out more than 115,000 welfare contacts, calls and visits, helped tell thousands of bedtime stories to children whose parents were away on operations, and gave tailored holidays to 2,500 RAF veterans, widows and family at our Wings Breaks hotels. Our support ranges from simply providing conversation and friendship to preparing and submitting application forms for financial assistance.
Charity numbers: 226686 (England and Wales), SCO37673 (Scotland).
