ROYAL AIR FORCES ASSOCIATION

LIAISON OFFICERS (RAFALO)

PACK UP

Re-issued: Jul 14

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CONTENTS PAGE History of the RAF Association 3 What is the RAF Association? 4 What does the RAFALO role involve? 5 RAFALO and RAF Association Hierarchy 6 Membership 7 Fundraising 8 Welfare 8 rafa YOUTH 9 TORs 10 RAFALO Annual Report Format 12

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History of the RAF Association It began in the Sergeants’ Mess at RAF Andover in 1929 with the ‘Comrades of the Royal Air Force’ and a conversation between 3 men, Vernon Goodhand, Joe Pearce and Warrant Officer Bartlett. Their conversation focused on the numerous small organisations that had grown up since the end of WWl to keep former members of squadrons and units in touch with each other. They debated whether it was time that one great organisation dedicated to this work and to the welfare of serving and ex-serving RAF personnel should not now be born. By 1930 a provisional committee was formed, the title Comrades of the Royal Air Forces was adopted, and 3 months later the first general meeting was held at the Queen’s Hotel, Leicester Square, London. Air Ministry support for the Comrades came in 1933 when the Air Council officially recognised the organisation, and Lord Trenchard accepted the Presidency. The new Association was to make rapid progress in the early thirties, although membership remained fairly small. Benevolent schemes began, and Christmas hampers were sent to unemployed members in those difficult days. One very important event in the Association’s history came in 1936 when King George V gave his patronage, and the Association has been honoured with Royal patronage ever since. The size of the RAF remained modest until the effects of the re-armament programme began to be felt in 1938. However, the strength of the Comrades never grew beyond 10,000 in pre-war days. The outbreak of war in 1939 and the re-forming of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in July of that year, led to the Women’s Royal Air Force Old Comrades Association (that had been formed in 1919) opening its membership to all ranks of the new women’s service. The 2 old comrades’ organisations for airmen and airwomen were amalgamated in 1941, with a combined membership of nearly 20,000. By 1943, with more than a million serving in the RAF, it became clear that if the Association was to play an effective role in the post-war era, it would need to be organised on a much sounder basis. The Association’s Central Committee, in studying the organisation’s future role, concluded that its aims and objectives should be extended beyond its original purpose. 1943 also marked the year the name was changed to The Royal Air Forces Association. A National Council, under the chairmanship of ACM Sir John Steel was formed to replace the Central Committee of CRAFA. Its first meeting was on 24 August 1943 in a London hotel, and Lord Trenchard, as President, gave the address of welcome. The foundations of the present structure were laid in the remaining wartime years, so that when demobilisation began in 1945 the Association was able to cope with the situation. Welfare officers, employment officials and legal advisers were appointed both at national headquarters and at branch level and, at the Air Ministry’s invitation, officials went to Release Centres to tell those being demobbed how the Association could help them. The growth of membership reached a peak around this time. In 1947 there were about 200,000 members, with some 565 branches throughout the UK and in some overseas territories. Enrolment of members reached the staggering total of 10,000 a month! There was a danger that the organisation would be swamped, and it was decided to distribute much of the administrative work over 9 separate areas, each with its own HQ. Today the RAF Association still has a wide network of some 460 branches worldwide with a membership of around 63,500. However, enrolment has not maintained the dizzy levels of the 1940’s and we now have a major challenge encouraging more RAF personnel to support their Association.

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What is the RAF Association? The RAF Association is a membership organisation, providing welfare through charitable means, being dedicated to supporting serving and former RAF personnel, including Reserves, and their families. RAF personnel and their families dedicate their lives to their country. Our mission is simple: to ensure that their sacrifice does not result in suffering, poverty or loneliness. The RAF Association is the UK’s largest single-service membership charity: we are proud of our history and look forward to our future; we are there to help the whole RAF family. In a typical year these are just some of the ways that we can help.

Our network of more than 540 volunteer welfare officers make around 82,000 welfare visits and calls

We help to claim more than £460,000 in pension and compensation claims

We provide much needed respite care breaks for around 2,000 people

We give separated RAF families the chance to enjoy quality time together, by supporting

the furnishing of Contact Houses

Wings Video Mail, currently, allows RAF personnel serving in Afghanistan to send a free one minute video message back home via email

Storybook Wings has helped to ease the pain of separation for over 2,300 children with

parents serving overseas

We assist around 50 RAF veterans or their widows/widowers to lead safe, independent lives in our sheltered and supported housing

Through the RAF Families Federation, we give RAF personnel and their families the

chance to influence future policy

Through the RAF Personnel Recovery Unit we help fund a Specialist Employment Advisor, who supports serving personnel transitioning to civilian life on medical grounds

The RAF Association is administered by a team of salaried staff, some of whom are ex-RAF, who maintain a Headquarters in Leicester. This team, led by a Secretary General, is instructed in its task by a Trustee Body (known as Central Council) of elected members, on which 3 serving members of the RAF are included. The head of the RAF Association is the President and the Trustee Body is led by a Chairman. Below this structure, the RAF Association is broken down into, what is now, 5 Areas, each with an Area Director and a Branch Support Officer, the body of the membership sits within a Branch structure, of which there are currently over 450. Finally, there are a number of regional committees that bridge the gap between Areas and Branches. Each Member of the RAF Association has a voice; Areas conduct Annual Conferences, in order to debate policy decisions, which, in turn, are taken forward to National Conference. Annual Conference alternates between Eastbourne and Blackpool, each May. RAFALOs have an important role in all of this activity, by supporting the wider RAF Family and can act as Branch Delegates and are encouraged to take part in the debates.

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What does the RAFALO role involve? A RAFALO is a Station appointed duty, endorsed by the Air Force Board, which acts as the eyes and ears of the RAF Association at grass roots level. The RAFALO role is for all ranks, with only 14% of registered RAFALOs being Officers; against a Service ratio of 22%. Civilian colleagues should also be encouraged to become RAFALOs in their own right. The RAFALO is the focal point for activities on the Station/Establishment, that relate to the RAF Association. The role is required to foster and maintain the close relations that already exist between the RAF and the Association, to develop new relationships with Branches, to raise the awareness of the RAF Association and its role amongst all personnel on the Station/Establishment, recruit new members and to raise valuable funds wherever possible. It is equally important that RAFALOs are alert to opportunities for the RAF Association to provide active support for serving personnel and their families, which should include engagement with the respective Unit HR staff to pursue such initiatives. For instance, the Association has already provided funding towards the creation or improvement of contact houses on many stations, runs the very popular Storybook Wings programme and has provided better communication facilities for our personnel deployed in Afghanistan. Thus, existing and potential Association members can see a direct link between our Service and our Association. As stated, the RAFALO role is a duty, whereby the RAFALO is engaged in recognised activities in support of unit welfare obligations, and this is formally regarded as acting in the course of their employment with MoD or the Armed Forces. Thus, whilst the role as RAFALO is additional to any primary duties, it is nonetheless a duty. That does not mean, of course, that you have a blank cheque in terms of time away from work or travel and subsistence. However, as this role is Station appointed, the Station Commander/Head of Establishment should be willing to support the RAFALO activities, which ultimately directly contributes to the welfare and morale of our Service. It is hoped that the RAFALO is not required to act in isolation, and a body of RAFALOs can form a committee in order to undertake their role, with one designated to be the lead for the Station/Establishment. As with the wider Association, there is a hierarchy for RAFALOs and beyond those on Station an Area RAFALO is selected, from experienced RAFALO volunteers, to support those Stations within their AOR; they must be serving within that Area. These Area RAFALOs, along with the serving Trustees, form a Senior RAFALO Committee, which is administered by Community Support. Any issues, for funding, support to RAFALO activity or general suggestions can be staffed through this network for comment and resolution. You are not alone in your endeavours and, as well as the RAFALO structure, RAFALOs can engage directly with their Area Director, Branch Support Officer or any member of the Central Headquarters (CHQ) staff. A RAFALO Induction Course is also available throughout the year and held at CHQ. The RAFALO POC at CHQ is Len ‘Griff’ Griffiths, who manages an on-line support page under the www.rafa.org.uk web site. Once a member of the RAF Association, you can contact Griff and register as a RAFALO, following which you will be registered and have access to a number of useful documents, in order to undertake the RAFALO role. RAFALOs are encouraged to attend Area Conferences and National Conference, the later of which also holds the RAFALO National Conference; each of these events is promulgated in advance. There is a requirement to complete an Annual Report, to be endorsed by the Station Commander, by 15 Jan each year, which details the RAFALO efforts for that period. However, RAFALOs are encouraged to promote their efforts throughout the year, both within local publications, such as Station Magazines, and RAF Association publications that include Air Mail and CONNECT, which is a RAFALO specific publication. A set of TORs is available at the end of this document. RAFALO activity should be, rightly, recognised and there are a number of trophies to be competed for each year, for recruitment, fundraising and to recognise the exceptional service of a RAFALO. Presidential Certificates, similarly to Commendations, can also be awarded.

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RAFALO Hierarchy

RAFA Central Council

• Honorary Vice President – Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford (CAS) • Senior Service Representative – Air Cdre Opie (ACOS Pers Pol) • 3 x Service Trustees – at least one to be an airman

• Sqn Ldr Ady Morris (MOD Main Building) • Sgt Wayne Swiggs (British Forces Cyprus)

Area RAFALOs

• Scotland & Northern Ireland – temporarily FS Alan Frew (RAF Lossiemouth) • Northern – WO Dougie Lee (RAF Linton-on-Ouse) • Wales, Midlands & South West – WO Vince Taylor (MOD Corsham) • Eastern – Sqn Ldr Dean ‘Gibbo’ Gibson (56 (R) Sqn,AWC – Waddington) • South Eastern – Flt lt Andy Kerslake (RAF High Wycombe) • Overseas – Flt Lt Andrew ‘Spike’ Milligan (RAF Akrotiri)

Community Support

• Gp Capt Asbee (DACOS Community Support) • WO Phil Chadwick (Community Support)

RAFA Area & CHQ Contacts

Area Directors

• Scotland & Northern Ireland – joe.stanfield@rafa.org.uk • Northern – darrell.slater-smith@rafa.org.uk • Wales, Midlands & South West – paul.baker@rafa.org.uk • South East & Eastern – ken.clarke@rafa.org.uk • Overseas – simon.martin@rafa.org.uk

Area Branch Support Officers

• Scotland & Northern Ireland – dave.mowatt@rafa.org.uk • Northern – pete.hudson@rafa.org.uk • Wales, Midlands & South West – jim.ritchie@rafa.org.uk • Eastern – stephen.webb@rafa.org.uk • South Eastern – mick.larkman@rafa.org.uk

CHQ Contacts

• Bob Hounslow (Membership Director) – bob.hounslow@rafa.org.uk • Len ‘Griff’ Griffiths (Membership Development Manager) – len.griffiths@rafa.org.uk • Michael Bolton (Fundraising & Marketing Director) – michael.bolton@rafa.org.uk

• Peter.brocklehurst@rafa.org.uk • Chris.osbourne@rafa.org.uk • Barry.harteveld@rafa.org.uk • Nicola.heath@rafa.org.uk

• Rory O’Connor (Welfare Director) – rory.oconnor@rafa.org.uk • Lisa Thipthorp – storybookwings@rafa.org.uk

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Membership As a membership organisation, the RAF Association’s strength is in its members, be they serving, ex-serving or Associates; whom will have had no direct link with the RAF but are air-minded. Retention and recruitment of new members is a priority for the RAF Association, RAFALOs have a significant role in raising the total of serving members, acknowledged as being only 33% of the current RAF establishment. You will note the current breakdown of the RAF establishment set against each RAF Association Area and this, in itself, serves to highlight that the RAF footprint cannot completely match the RAF Association and better ways of retaining contact needs to be considered. In all that you do, think membership.

As the RAF reduces,

RAFA Membership

and Fundraising

has improved

RAF Strength vs RAFA Membership

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

RAF Strength Serving Members Linear (RAF Strength) Linear (Serving Members)

RAF Strength by RAFA Area

69%

11%

8%

9% 3%

South East & Eastern Wales, Midlands & South West Northern

Scotland & Northern Ireland Overseas

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Fundraising

The RAF Association receives no Government funding, so we are dependent on the generosity of the public and our own members, of which we include RAFALOs, to raise the funds that will enable us to continue our work. The demand on our resources continues to grow. The specific Stn figures below are as reported by CHQ. RAFALOs should ensure that they send in payments regularly throughout the year, allocate Wings Appeal fundraising to your local Branches, as it contributes to their totals, ensure collections managed by the Branch, supported by Station personnel, are appropriately reported to CHQ for recording against Station activity. Also, routinely check on Station totals with CHQ, set against your own records. Monitor Challenge events as many service personnel undertake challenges without referring to RAFALO committees. We are probably doing more!! The fundraising team have an excellent guide available within the Branch and Membership Resources within the login area of the www.rafa.org.uk web site. It is worth noting that the RAF Association holds a number of places for the London Marathon, the Great North Run and has a number of other outdoor activities, including parachuting, which could be used by RAFALOs to generate fundraising. After a duck raise at RAF Brize Norton, just use your imagination. Welfare The RAF Association spends the vast element of its income on welfare, almost 80% of the near £8M annual spend. So what does it provide? CHQ administer a number of Wings Breaks facilities, namely:

• Richard Peck – Lytham St Annes • Rothbury – Northumberland • Flowerdown – Weston Super Mare

In addition, the South East and Eastern Area has a number of Holiday Homes available to all members of the RAF Association

• Hemsby Chalets • Selsey Caravan

RAF Station Fundraising Figures

47936

71387

84108

60171

9205098337

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Stn Wings monies sent to CHQ after 2nd week of

Nov are unlikely to be accounted for

in-year

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For current serving personnel, Storybook Wings is an excellent scheme to allow those about to deploy or actually on deployment to record a story for their child or children to replay in their absence. It is intended to extend to eligibility for this scheme to extended family and for attendance at courses. The scheme relies very heavily on volunteer editors and we already have 12 serving members who act in this capacity, benefiting the RAF Family. Why not get involved and contact Lisa at Storybook Wings. Wings Video Mail has a well-received step up in provision of contact of personnel with their family, whilst they serve on operations. Replacing the Miles More Minutes campaign, this system affords the serviceman the opportunity to send a video message home even when bandwidth is limited, thereby complimenting the face to face contact that the modern family aspires to. Whilst the RAF has been proactive in providing Contact Houses to enable much needed access to dependant children by separated personnel, the RAF Association has stepped forward to provide significant financial support to the refurbishment of over 30 of these properties, in order to ensure a homely feel and remove any access issues for our single personnel. RAFALOs can be of service promoting this support more widely and engaging with those you help run the Houses to establish any current or future need. At a more specialist level, the RAF Association has funded a Specialist Employment Advisor, who works within the RAFs Personnel Recovery Unit, RAF High Wycombe. This specialist role provides advise to those personnel who may be subject to medical discharge in order to ensure that they are not disadvantaged when attempting to transition to civilian life. In turn, this provides an opportunity to identify and person specific support, beyond that available as part of the medical, resettlement or unit welfare provision. RAF Sports are also benefiting from financial support from the RAF Association, with Station Football teams and Service Volleyball Team being just a few examples. There are opportunities for RAFALOs to be trained as, and take up the role of, Honorary Welfare Officer, that provides a vital role in gathering information from RAFA members in need. The training for this role is accredited and more information can be obtained from the Welfare Team at CHQ. And this is just support generated through CHQ, with many more Branches directly supporting RAF Stations and Squadrons, be it at home or away on operations and exercise. In sum, the RAF Association is investing a significant amount of time and money to support the wider RAF Family. It is incumbent on RAFALOs to be aware of these schemes, ensure they keep abreast of developments and promote these across their Station/Establishment in order to assist in recruitment and fundraising activities. rafa YOUTH The new membership category of the RAF Association created for 13-17 year olds in the air-related uniformed youth organisations: ATC, CCF(RAF), Air Scouts, Air Explorer Scouts & GVCAC – the aims are:

• Promoting youth development through an air-related environment • Encouraging volunteering, support & interaction • Inspiring and growing the next generation of RAF Association members & our future

aviation community • Increased awareness of the Association, its goals & its work

RAFALOs can usefully assist in promoting this membership when ATC Sqns visit RAF Stations during the Easter and Summer Camps. More information is available from the Membership Team at CHQ.

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TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR RAFA LIAISON OFFICERS 1. The appointment as a Royal Air Force Association Liaison Officer (RAFALO) is a secondary duty within the terms of QR60. Any person nominated as a RAFALO, in whatever capacity, should already be a member of the Association or will be expected to become a member of the Association before undertaking the duty. 2. You are hereby appointed as the RAFALO for xxxxxxxxxx. In this role, you are to act as the focal point and co-ordinator of all RAF Association matters undertaken at this Station/Establishment. You have the task of fostering close co-operation between the RAF and the Association and of actively encouraging recruitment of serving personnel to the Association. A RAFALO Familiarisation Day is held quarterly at the RAF Association CHQ, Leicester and all new RAFALOs are encouraged to attend. Booking for the course can be made through the Membership Development Manager, The RAF Association, 117½ Loughborough Road, Leicester, LE4 5ND; telephone 0116 268 8783. 3. Your duties include the following, with a list of current contacts attached:

a. Establishing and maintaining contact with the appropriate RAF Association Area Director and Branch Support Officer. b. Establishing and maintaining contacts with the Area RAFALO. c. Establishing and maintaining a committee of RAFALOs at this Station/Establishment. d. Attendance at the Area RAFALO Committee meetings, held throughout the year. e. Attendance at the Area Council meetings, on request, in order to participate in discussions on subjects that affect the Area and to report to Area Council on any RAFALO initiatives, updates and problems. f. Support to the delivery of the Area Conference and Annual RAFALO Conference, held in conjunction with the RAFA National Conference each May. g. Competing for the Marquis of Amodio Trophy awarded to the station/unit which recruits the highest number of new members pro rata to station/unit personnel over one calendar year. Returns for the year are to be submitted to the Membership Development Manager by 15 January the following year. h. Competing for the Lord Tedder and Sir John Baker Trophies for the RAF station achieving the highest and second highest overall collection of funds for the Association. (Note: Only funds sent through and recorded by the Accounts Department at RAF Association CHQ, will be used to determine trophy winners. All funds must reach RAFA CHQ by the 15th November).

i. Ensuring that Station RAFALOs publicise the aims and objects of the RAF Association, support their local Branches, promote the Wings Appeal, both on Station and in the local communities and encourage membership of the Association by serving personnel.

j. Monitoring the Station activities, in association with Wings Appeal and any other fundraising on behalf of the Association, in order to promote the work of Station RAFALOs.

k. Ensuring the Station completes an Annual Report, signed by the Station Commander, for submission to the Membership Marketing Manager by 15 January.

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l. Raising any Station RAFALO concerns to the attention of the Senior RAFALO Committee, via the Area RAFALO. m. Provide input to the Station RAFALO appraisals, where required, and bringing to the attention of the Senior RAFALO Committee any exemplary examples of RAFALO activity, for consideration both for Honours and Awards and Best Practice, throughout the year. n. Ensure that a suitable deputy is appointed and apprised of your activities, in order that they may deputise for you, at meetings etc, in your absence.

4. During your tour of duty you are encouraged, subject to the approval of your Station Commander, to visit a RAF Association Home, attend seminars and Area and National conferences. Your attention is drawn to AP 3392 Vol 2 Leaflet 2407 para 14. 5. You should note that DACOS Community Support, and his staff at HQ Air Cmd, have responsibility for all community support and welfare matters. Nonetheless, advice on RAF Association policy and practice should normally be directed to your RAF Association Area Director or to Community Support staff on 95221 6584. 6. On relinquishing your appointment, you are to notify details of your successor, through your Senior RAFALO Committee, to the Membership Development Manager, the RAF Association, 117½ Loughborough Road, Leicester LE4 5ND; telephone 0116 268 8783.

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AP3392 Vol 2 Leaflet 2407 Annex B Appendix 1

Membership Development Manager The RAF Association 117½ Loughborough Road Leicester LE4 2NB ANNUAL REPORT OF RAFALO ACTIVITIES – RAF XXXXXX Introduction 1. General details of your unit (within security limitations) including strength of uniformed personnel, civil staff and contractors’ staff. For initial training units also include the throughput of trainees per year. (Note: This information is important as it will be used to determine the eligibility for annual awards) Branch RAFA Activity 2. Details of any involvement with local RAFA branches. Welfare 3. Details of any particular welfare activity either on the Unit or in the local community. Note that details, such as names and addresses of welfare cases, are not to be included. Membership/Recruitment 4. Details/figures of any new members recruited and any recruitment activities. Note: These figures will be used to judge the award of recruitment trophies. This section should include the names of those recruited, what Branch they joined and when they were recruited. Fundraising 5. Details of any fundraising activity held during the year, including Wings Appeal and the total amount of money raised for RAFA during the year. Note that these figures will be used to judge the Wings Collection trophies. It is important to include the amount of money raised, when it was transferred to the Association and to whom it was sent. It should also include the source of the donation (eg Station Open Day). Other Activity including Visits/Parades/Services/Conferences/Seminars 6. Brief details of any other activities carried out by RAFALO(s) during the year. If required, an Annex can be added providing details of RAFALO activity, the RAFA events attended etc. Station/Unit Events 7. The Association is always keen to identify RAF events that they could attend in order to promote their cause. In order to assist in this process, include a list of events to be held at your station for the coming year. Include details of the type of event, date(s), potential audience and point of contact.

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RAFALO Details 8. Include a list of all RAFALOs on Unit, including contact telephone numbers. Any Other Comments 9. Include any other information not already covered. Signature : _________________ Name : __________________ Date : __________________ Appointment : ________________ Remarks by Stn/Unit Commander 10. Following completion of para 8 above the RAFALO should pass the report to the Stn/Unit Cdr for final action. The Stn Cdr should be invited to "sign-off" the report, and to include any brief comments or observations that he may consider appropriate. 11. The RAFALO is responsible for ensuring the report is distributed to action and information addressees. Signature : _________________ Name : __________________ Date : __________________ Appointment : ________________ Copy to: Stn/Unit Cdr RAF Association Area Director Area RAFALO