2010 annual report and accounts - PDF 700KB - RAF Benevolent ...

A safety net in uncertain times:looking back on 2010“It was clear to us that base closures and redundancieswould create new challenges and ask even more ofthe Service community.”Chairman’s ReportThe Royal Air Force family experienced significantchanges in 2010 as the new government outlineda programme of spending cuts designed to reduceour national deficit.The Strategic Defence and Security Review wasan important part of this, affecting most servingpersonnel. It was clear to us that base closuresand redundancies would create new challengesand ask even more of the Service community.We also recognised that former RAF personnel,particularly the elderly, would feel the effectsas cuts to local authority grants rippled acrosssocial care.It was gratifying to know that, despite all thisupheaval, we were well prepared to help theRAF family deal with uncertain times.Our spectrum of care expanded and strengthenedduring 2010. We initiated our £11m ‘Airplay’Youth Support Programme which began rollingout at RAF stations across the UK, building on ourearlier, hugely successful childcare centre project.Meanwhile, our highly respected welfare teamcontinued to offer the mobility, disability, housingand financial support that former RAF personnelneed to maintain dignified, independent lives.We increased the support we offer to othersections of the RAF family, expanding ourwelfare provision to cover Air Cadets andthe Royal Auxiliary Air Force, a move I amparticularly pleased about as Honorary AirCommodore of 600 (City of London) Squadron.We also consolidated our relationships withmany other RAF charities, notably the PolishAir Force Association.We were also privileged to participate in manyevents held to mark the 70th anniversary of theBattle of Britain. The anniversary was a chancefor the nation to reconnect with the men andwomen who defended this country in its mostperilous moment, to honour their dedication,commitment and bravery and to reflect on howthese qualities endure in the Royal Air Force today.I would especially like to thank all our staff andsupporters who showed such enthusiasm for ourwork last year. Of the £18m income received,£12m was raised through many superbcommunity fundraising efforts, legacy income,corporate donations and the invaluable‘half day’s pay’ contributions made by servingRAF personnel. Nonetheless, in the same yearwe spent over £23m, an indication of the scaleof our welfare expenditure.We receive no government funding. It is onlyas a result of your great and enduring generositythat we are able to make such a contribution,helping to repay what Winston Churchill termedthe “Debt We Owe” to the extraordinary menand women of the Royal Air Force.The Viscount Trenchard of Wolfeton DLChairman of the RAF Benevolent Fund02 The Heart of the RAF family