Lechlade Duck Race

We believe every generation owes a debt of gratitude to the RAF and their families. To protect the peace and safety we enjoy every day, they sacrifice the normal way of life most people take for granted.

So, when one of the RAF family needs a friend, they turn to us, the Royal Air Forces Association.

That’s because we can be there on the doorstep, in person, to help sort out the problem and share the load. When times are tough, nothing beats friendly, face-to-face support from someone who really cares.

Whether it’s an injured airman fighting to get back on his 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 Service personnel and their families.

With thousands of members and volunteers across the UK and further afield, we have the network needed for a personal, one-to-one approach. Our befriender and caseworker volunteers attend nationally accredited training courses, and are DBS checked so you can be confident in the services we provide.

We carefully and sensitively deliver all the support we offer to members of the RAF family to suit the needs of each individual we help. We work in partnership with other organisations to make sure we can provide the correct support.

Who do we help?

Today, there are over 1.5 million people in the RAF family who are either serving or who have served in the RAF (whether as a regular or reservist) and their spouses, partners or dependent children. We know family doesn’t stop there, so for some of our work we also count parents and close relatives, air-minded youth organisations, contractors and civil servants supporting the RAF as part of the family. You do not need to be a member to receive our help.

Just a typical working year for the RAF Association

These are just some of the ways that we help our servicemen and women, past and present.

• Over 74,000 members offering friendship and support to one another
• Our network of volunteer welfare officers make over 115,000 welfare contacts visits and calls offering personal support to meet each individual’s and family’s needs
• We give expert advice and professional assistance on War Pensions and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, achieving more than £550,000 in pension and compensation payments
• We help 2,500 people enjoy a much needed Wings Break
• We fund the refurbishment of comfortable contact houses on stations, so serving personnel could be visited by family and friends
• We assist around 85 RAF veterans or their widows/widowers to lead safe, independent lives in our sheltered and supported housing
• Through the RAF Families Federation we give RAF personnel and their families the chance to influence future policy
• We distribute more than £1.9m in welfare grants to serving and ex-serving personnel