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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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.
Read moreRecently 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.
Read moreA 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.
Read moreThe 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.
Read moreTuesday 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.
Read moreRed, 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?
Read moreFormer Senior Aircraftsman Matt Neve has been selected to represent the United Kingdom in the archery event at the Invictus Games in Toronto.
Matt, who lives in Swansea, will join 90 other wounded, injured and sick UK military personnel and veterans as they compete in the third Invictus Games competition, following the inaugural event in London in 2014.
Matt, now 32, joined the Royal Air Force as a driver in 2001 at just 16-years-old.
Read moreAn RAF Regiment veteran, who will take part in this year’s Invictus Games, has spoken out about how sport helped turn his life around when an accident left him with life-changing injuries.
Michael Mellon, of Cardenden, was just 17 when he joined the RAF in 1997 following his father, sister and brother into military service.
In 2001, while playing in a RAF Rugby match, Mike fractured his tibia and fibula bones which resulted in compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome is a painful and potentially serious condition caused by bleeding or swelling within an enclosed bundle of muscles – known as a muscle “compartment”.
Read moreAn RAF welfare charity today revealed it has helped more than 1,000 people access £1.5million in unclaimed benefits after identifying that a large number of veterans were not receiving what they were entitled to.
The RAF Benevolent Fund launched its Advice & Advocacy Service two years ago after research that the charity carried out indicated many of its beneficiaries were not receiving eligible state benefits, such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction or Universal Credit.
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Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here