Charlotte Barmby: RAF Benevolent Fund

Thu, Nov 15th 2018 at 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm

The RAF Benevolent Fund is the RAF's leading welfare charity with a proud tradition of looking after its own. It is there for all serving and former members of the RAF as well as their partners and dependent children.


RAF biplane from WWICharlotte Barmby, who came to talk to us about the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, is herself a daughter of two RAF officers. Her father was a pilot and her mother was an RAF air traffic controller. Lord Trenchard, who founded the RAF, set up the RAF Benevolent Fund in 1919, the year after the RAF itself was formed.

Charlotte told us that there are 400 military charities but only four specifically supporting the RAF:

The RAF Benevolent Fund also supports the RAF Family, consisting of current and retired members of the RAF, including those who served in the RAF on National Service, and their families. This “Family” has some 1,560,000 members, of which 1,460,000 are retired RAF personnel and their family members and 100,000 are current RAF personnel and their families. The people the RAF Benevolent Fund supports are spread over 52 countries.

The projects the Benevolent Fund arranges or supports include:

  • improved gym facilities on RAF bases, gyms being very important to the fitness and morale of serving personnel;
  • “Airplay” providing activities for children living on RAF bases, which can be important in helping them to make new friends when they can move from base to base every two-three years;
  • help with the transition to civilian life; and
  • introductions to other helping agencies, such as Relate and Citizens Advice.

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