Help is there for RAF veterans

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is a national charity helping both serving and former RAF personnel, their partners, and dependent children. It launched its new advertising campaign this week in East Anglia in an effort to reach local residents who might be eligible for help.

Air Commodore Paul Hughesdon, Director of Welfare and Policy at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “The RAF Benevolent Fund provides support for all members of the RAF Family who are in need, but too often people don’t know they can come to us. The message of our campaign is simple: If you or your partner were in the RAF and are in financial need, we will try to help.”

The RAF Benevolent Fund can help in many ways, from financial assistance with heating bills or home repairs and top up grants to help a veteran live a dignified retirement, to assistance with mobility or care costs, whether at home or in a residential or nursing home. The RAF Benevolent Fund also provides respite breaks at its seaside residence, Princess Marina House on the South coast and can subsidise those who cannot afford the full cost.

Launched in 1919, the RAF Benevolent Fund has been supporting members of the RAF family for over 90 years.

Paul Hughesdon continued: “Too often, people don’t come to us because they simply don’t know that help is at hand. Sometimes they think that their two years in National Service wasn’t enough to be eligible for consideration, that there is always someone more deserving than them, or they don’t want to trouble anyone with their problems. But we are here for anyone who ever served and we hope this campaign will encourage them to reach out to us and apply for help.”

In the past year, the RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity, spent more than £18 million helping over 60,000 members of the RAF family with a range of services, from child care centres and youth workers on each of the main RAF Stations, to relationship counselling, and assistance with financial, housing, and medical needs.

We are keen to hear from anyone from the RAF Family who is in financial need and might need our help. For more information, please call 0800 198 2400 or visit our website at www.rafbf.org.