A new life thanks to a little support
Anne Lawson served in the RAF from 1976 to 1989 as a Telecommunications Controller, including a stint in Gibraltar when it was a major staging post for the UK response to Argentina's invasion of the Falklands. On leaving she set up a business with her husband in the United States.
The marriage, however, collapsed and Anne had to flee back to Britain with her children due to her husband's behaviour. She was determined to find a job and support her sons, but despite running a business for years, she had no qualifications she could take to potential employers. Nor did she have the resources to go back to college. "I was having to spend my money on food or on heating," she says.
It was fortunate then that Anne came across a local service charity, which suggested she get in touch with the RAF Benevolent Fund. We offered to pay for Anne's travel and education materials so that she could study for a degree in human resources at the University of Stirling. We also helped with a contribution of clothes for her sons. The hard work came from Anne.
In 2008, she achieved the highest grade possible in her final exams. "I couldn't have done it without the help of the RAF Benevolent Fund," she says. "They helped me to make my own way out of an awful situation, and for that I will always be grateful."
Below is a video interview with Anne.
For information about help in times of financial difficulty, please see How we can help | Financial need.
