Fund chosen for The Telegraph’s Christmas Charity Appeal

We, at the RAF Benevolent Fund, are thrilled and humbled to have been chosen as one of the charities for the Telegraph’s Christmas Charity Appeal 2023.

The Telegraph’s Christmas Charity Appeal will raise much needed funds to support serving RAF personnel, veterans and their families.

The Appeal has been running for more than 100 years, and started in its current format in 1986. It has raised close to £30 million for charities since its launch. Last year’s total was the second highest in the last ten years after the £852k raised during COVID in 2020.

Air Vice-Marshal Chris Elliot, Controller of the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: "We are delighted and humbled to be part of The Telegraph’s Christmas Charity Appeal and look forward to our collaboration. We hope that by being part of this Appeal, Telegraph readers will have the opportunity to learn more about what the RAF Benevolent Fund does to help change the lives of many RAF personnel, their families and veterans who need support to navigate challenging and often complex issues.

"As we have done for decades, we will continue to respond and adapt to the needs of our community, supporting individuals and their families for however long it is needed.  On behalf of everyone at the RAF Benevolent Fund, including our beneficiaries, we will be immensely grateful for the help of Telegraph readers towards sustaining and developing the work that we do.  However big or small the donation, it will enable us to remain a lifeline to so many within the RAF Community when they need it most."

Chris Evans, Editor of the Telegraph, said: "We are delighted to be supporting the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund this year and look forward to sharing its work in the Telegraph."

The past few years have presented us all with extraordinary challenges, and we've witnessed an overwhelming surge in demand for the essential assistance we provide. In 2022 alone, we were able to support 40,700 members of the extended RAF Family, reaching beyond the UK to offer help worldwide. The combined strain of the rise of cost of living and the enduring impact of the Covid-19 pandemic have led more individuals to turn to us, seeking not only financial and practical aid but also the invaluable emotional support that we provide.

The appeal launched in the Telegraph on 5 November and will run until the end of January 2024. On Sunday 4 December, the Telegraph will run its charity phone-in day, where readers can call Telegraph staff to make a donation over the phone.