Kristina Parkin

Royal Air Forces Association

The Royal Air Forces Association (RAF Association) is the largest membership organisation and registered charity that provides welfare support to the RAF Family worldwide. With a UK-wide caseworker network of over 540 volunteer Welfare Officers undertaking over 68,000 welfare contacts annually, our help ranges from simply providing conversation and friendship to preparing and submitting application forms for financial assistance. We are dedicated to supporting serving and former RAF personnel and their families and continue to maintain our Royal links - HM the Queen currently acts as Patron. In a typical year, these are some of the ways we support Servicemen and women, past and present. - Over 72,000 members offering friendship and support - Network of over 540 welfare officers make over 68,000 welfare contacts - Helping to secure more than £200,000 in pension and compensation claims for those facing financial hardship - Provide much needed respite care breaks for around 2,800 people through the Homes from Home - Giving 2,500 separated RAF families the chance to enjoy quality time together - Our latest innovation Wings Video Mail allows RAF personnel serving in Afghanistan to stay in touch with family and friends by offering them the chance to send one-minute message back to loved ones - The Storybook Wings initiative helps over 500 children with parents serving overseas - Assisting around 50 RAF veterans or their widows/widowers to lead safe, independent lives in sheltered and supported housing - Through the RAF Families Federation the RAF Association gives RAF personnel and their families the chance to influence future policy - We distribute more than £1.2 million in welfare grants to serving and ex-serving personnel To find out more visit our website by clicking below.