Relationship support for RAF personnel, their partners and families

It can be tough keeping relationships together in these difficult times and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund recognises that RAF families and couples face additional pressures, due to long periods of separation, the stress of active service, and having to live a long way from family and friends.

That’s why the RAF Benevolent Fund are offering to pay for confidential relationship support for anyone in the RAF, their families and partners, whether they are married, living together, separated, divorced, in a same sex relationship, civil partnership, or coping with the end of a relationship.

The RAF Benevolent Fund is working with Relate who can provide you with advice or counselling on a wide range of issues that can affect your relationship including coping with separation, managing recall, re-negotiating roles, parenting, dealing with affairs, re-establishing trust, communication and sexual difficulties.

Is the service confidential?

Yes. Everything you say to a Relate counsellor or trainer will remain confidential. No-one in the RAF will be told that you have accessed these services. You will need to give your service number, or your partner’s service number, but this is solely so the RAFBF can check that it is only paying for those eligible for the services.

How much help can I get?

The fund will pay for up to six sessions of adult relationship or family counselling or up to 20 sessions of Sex Therapy for everyone regardless of income. We offer sessions in a number of venues across the county during the day, in the evening and Saturday mornings. If this is not convenient, you can talk to one of our trained counsellors over the telephone without the need for you to leave your living room.