The Royal Air Forces Association

Who We Are and What We Do

Our mission…

• Our mission is simple:to ensure that their sacrifice does not result in

suffering, loneliness or poverty

• Our purpose is to provide welfare support to the whole RAF Family

• Membership organisation

Who we are…

• 63,500 members worldwide

• Offering friendship, help and support for the whole RAF Family

• Entirely reliant on public donations, receiving no government funding

• Charity governed by Royal Charter

• How we help

Today…

• The Families Federation’s work

• Financial health

• Funding our welfare work

• Working together

• The future

• Our members

How we help…

• HWOs and Case Workers our cornerstone

Welfare support in 2013…

• Over 82,000 welfare visits, emails and calls

• Accredited training and support

• Released over £1.4m in welfare grants

• 2,000 short breaks

• Wings Video Mail

Serving Personnel…

• Storybook Wings

• Contact Houses on over 30 RAF Stations

• Specialist Employment Advice

• Person Centred Support

• Individual grants and RAF Sports donations

• Short breaks at:Rothbury HouseFlowerdown HouseRichard Peck House

Veteran Welfare…

• Sheltered housing and supported living

• Alabare veterans homes partnership

• Over £460,000 secured in 2013

War Pensions & Compensation…

• 35 tribunals attended

• 74 applications positively resolved in 2013

• Highly respected by MoD and government

• Over 120 cases underway at any one time

2014 Welfare Direction…

• Forward planning the Welfare Journey to 2020

• Recruit and train Welfare volunteers

• All volunteers to be trained to accredited standard by end of 2015

RAF Families Federation…

• Support to Armed Forces Covenant and New Employment Model

Focus for 2014…

• Expanded remit to include single personnel and reservists

• Evidence gathering – online surveys and workshops

Influence…

• Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare & Vets

• CAS and RAF Senior Leadership Team

• House of Commons Defence Committee

• Armed Forces Pay Review Body

• Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group

• Defence Infrastructure Organisation

Financial Health…

2013 Finances…

• Today

• Strategic Financial Planning

• Prudence

2013 Income – Total £8.7 million…

2013 Expenditure – Total £7.5 million…

Funding our Welfare support…

• 80% of non-legacy income from branches

Fundraising Challenges…

• How to generate more supporters

• Create clearly defined ‘Supporter Journey’

• More support from general public

• Support branches

Fundraising Actions…

• Engage further with RAF and ATC

• Inform and enthuse the general public

• Public engagement- Door-to-Door - Wings Pub Lotto- Grand Draw

Fundraising Initiatives…

• Legacy programme- Remembrance Garden- In Memoriam

Our membership…

• 63,500 members

Membership today…

• 96.9% retention rate

• 82% recruitment of all new RAF entrants

• Branch network of 422 + 11 RMGs

• 85 RAF Association Clubs

• Over 600 rafa YOUTH members in Jan 2014

Our membership…

Serving personnel membership…

Size of RAF 34K

33.3%

42K

10.8%

• Increasing membership retention and recruitment

Membership Priorities in 2014…

• Improving % of serving RAF as members

• Retaining and supporting branch network

• Maintaining relevance

• Ensuring ongoing appeal of our clubs

• Increasing BSO support to branches

• Promoting rafa YOUTH

Working Together…

• Members, branches, serving personnel, cadets

Strengths and Opportunities…

• RAFALOs

• BSOs

• rafa YOUTH

• A strengthening brand

• Outstanding welfare provision

• Sound financial platform

• Continue to do our best for the RAF Family

The Future

• 2020 Vision – closer collaboration with other RAF charities

• Changing face of welfare need

The Royal Air Forces Association