RAF Association

RAF Association
Name	RAF Association
Formation	1929
Type	Charity
Headquarters	London
Location	United Kingdom
Leader title	Director General
Leader name	(varies)
Website	(see external)

RAF Association

The RAF Association is a British membership charity established to serve veterans and personnel connected to the Royal Air Force. It provides welfare, camaraderie and advocacy for individuals linked with RAF Regiment, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Commonwealth air services. The organisation operates across the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and internationally where former aircrew and ground staff reside.

History

The organisation traces roots to the aftermath of the First World War and the interwar period when airmen who had served in the Royal Flying Corps and early Royal Air Force sought mutual support. Founded in 1929, it evolved through the upheavals of the Second World War, the Battle of Britain era and the Cold War, adapting to the needs of personnel from campaigns such as the North African campaign, the Burma Campaign and the European theatre of World War II. Postwar demobilisation, the formation of NATO and operations including the Falklands War, the Gulf War and the Kosovo War influenced the Association's priorities. Over decades it has responded to social change, influencing debates in the House of Commons and engaging with the Ministry of Defence on welfare provision and veteran policy. Its longevity reflects connections to institutions like the Royal British Legion, the Veterans' Foundation and regional ex-service organisations across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

Purpose and Activities

The charity's core purpose is to support people who have served in or been associated with the Royal Air Force and allied air services. It pursues welfare through networks of local branches, providing advice on benefits linked to the Armed Forces Covenant and liaising with statutory bodies such as the Department for Work and Pensions and the National Health Service. The Association preserves heritage through commemorative events at sites like the Cenotaph, the National Memorial Arboretum and RAF memorials, and supports educational outreach to institutions including the Imperial War Museum and university military history departments. It also promotes research into aviation history, engaging with archives at the National Archives and collaborating with museums such as the Royal Air Force Museum, while supporting media projects, publications and oral-history initiatives tied to the British Library and academic presses.

Membership and Structure

Membership spans serving personnel, veterans, reservists and dependants linked to the Royal Air Force and associated air arms such as the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and international air forces including the United States Air Force and Royal Netherlands Air Force. The governance model includes a central council, regional committees and local branches aligned with counties and bases like RAF Brize Norton, RAF Lossiemouth and former stations such as RAF Fighter Command sites. Elected officers, trustees and volunteers administer benevolent funds, oversee property such as clubs and social centres, and coordinate with legal advisers and auditors. The organisation interfaces with statutory registries like the Charity Commission for England and Wales and equivalent bodies in devolved administrations.

Welfare and Support Services

Welfare provision includes grants, casework, mental-health referrals and practical assistance for housing, mobility and financial hardship. Services are tailored for issues arising from service in operations including the Northern Ireland conflict, the Iraq War (2003–2011) and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). The Association delivers veteran-focused programmes addressing post-traumatic stress, employment transition and family support, collaborating with clinical teams at NHS trusts, specialist providers such as Combat Stress and employment partners including Jobcentre Plus. Its outreach extends to care homes, rehabilitation centres and veterans’ hospices, and it offers concessionary schemes for transport linked to regional authorities and ex-service travel initiatives.

Fundraising and Events

Fundraising channels encompass legacies, appeals, corporate partnerships, community collections and ticketed commemorative functions. Annual flagship events include remembrance services, regional galas, aviation dinners and fundraising drives timed with anniversaries like VE Day and D-Day (1944). The Association organises flying displays, liaison with airshows such as the Royal International Air Tattoo and memorial flypasts involving units from the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team and historic aircraft preserved by groups like the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Volunteer-led collections, poppy appeals in conjunction with ex-service charities and legacy fundraising support long-term grant-making. Corporate donors, philanthropic trusts and alumni networks from training establishments such as the RAF College Cranwell contribute to capital and welfare funds.

Affiliations and Partnerships

The charity maintains formal and informal links with service charities and public bodies including the Royal British Legion, the Royal Air Forces Association (international counterparts), the Veterans UK agency and the Ministry of Defence. It partners with heritage organisations such as the Imperial War Museum and the Royal Air Force Museum for exhibitions and educational programming, and with academic institutions conducting research into aerospace history and veteran studies at universities like King's College London and the University of Portsmouth. International cooperation occurs with veteran groups in countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and with NATO-affiliated veteran networks. These affiliations extend to employment and welfare delivery partners, clinical providers and local authorities, forming a multi-stakeholder ecosystem supporting air service communities.

Category:Charities based in the United Kingdom Category:Royal Air Force