The Royal Air Forces Association, the charity that supports the RAF family, is offering special low rates to new and returning guests at its three Wings Breaks hotels over the coming months.
The hotels, in some of England’s most sought-after holiday spots, offer welfare breaks to members of the RAF family, including those who need additional care and support. Veterans and their spouses, widows, widowers and accompanying carers are all welcome.
Around 2,500 people take Wings Breaks each year. While many of the guests are very active and independent, some choose the hotels because the charity’s specially-trained staff are on hand to provide round-the-clock assistance.
The RAF Association’s Head of Hotels, Mark Shields, said the subsidised Wings Breaks enabled a range of people from the RAF family to take a well-earned rest.
He said: “Each location offers bedrooms adapted for people with reduced mobility, and all areas of the hotels are fitted with care call systems – making Wings Breaks suitable for older people who may live alone, and for couples where one of them is usually the care-giver.”
The charity’s hotels are located in Lytham St Anne’s in Lancashire, Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, and Rothbury near Morpeth in Northumberland.
Mark added: “They all offer a cosy home from home environment, and each has its own garden with patio, a TV lounge, bar and a garden room. All bedrooms are en-suite. For less mobile guests, mobility scooters and wheelchairs are available for use free of charge.”
Richard Peck House in Lytham St Annes and Flowerdown House in Weston-super-Mare are just a stone’s throw from the seafront, and are a short taxi ride from nearby railway stations connecting into the UK’s rail network.
Rothbury House in Northumberland overlooks the stunning Coquet Valley, close to the National Trust-owned Cragside Victorian country estate. Guests travelling there on public transport can be transferred by hotel staff from local bus and railway stations.
The discounted rates, which apply to seven-night full-board bookings for October to April, start at £325 for a single-occupancy room and £500 for a double or twin room. All meals, light entertainment and local excursions in a specially-adapted minibus are included.
RAF veterans and their spouses, widows and widowers struggling to afford a holiday are encouraged to contact the Association, which offers means-tested support towards the cost of its Wings Breaks.
For more information about the RAF Association’s Wings Breaks, please telephone 0800 018 2361 or visit the charity’s website: rafa.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Contacts for media; Rachel Dalby or Emma Reed, PR Managers, RAF Association, Leicester – 0116 464 5066
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)
