“How I help RAF veterans as a Community Engagement Worker at the Fund”

It’s the second year of the RAF Benevolent Fund’s pilot programme to help tackle social isolation and loneliness among veterans. In this blog, we catch up with one of the Fund’s Community Engagement Workers, Sophie Napleton, to talk about her experience working with the RAF Family and the support that is offered to serving and ex-serving members of the RAF Family from the RAF Benevolent Fund. Sophie Napleton is one of four Community Engagement Workers at the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Working remotely to deliver the support necessary to vulnerable members of the RAF Family, Sophie's job involves directly helping beneficiaries in a hands-on way, making a significant impact to veterans’ mental wellbeing.

When Sophie visits a Fund beneficiary for the first time, they create an action plan that outlines the specific areas of help they will be getting for the improvement of their day-to-day lives.

Sophie said: “Typically my week starts off with checking emails for referrals. Once a referral comes through the pipeline, I usually create a plan of action with the – beneficiary, researching suitable local activities that we can attend together and connecting them to other RAF Benevolent Fund services that may be useful to them. I also get them set up with the Fund’s Telephone Friendship Groups; being a listening ear – a counsellor if you like. Another event I run is a monthly breakfast club at the Tangmere Museum of Aviation which is great fun.”

True to their titles, Community Engagement Workers are essential building blocks to the Fund’s core services and values – offering continuous engagement and tangible support to our valued community.

Loneliness and isolation are recurring and prevalent themes amongst some of our beneficiaries.

Sophie said: “Mostly, those who rely on the support of the RAF Benevolent Fund are battling with issues of loneliness and isolation. However, because of their nature, isolated members of the RAF Family are hard to find as they are not usually connected to the traditional veteran and RAF Family circles. These individuals are most in need of support from us.”

After attending a four day Lakeside Group Break, accompanied by ten RAF Benevolent Fund beneficiaries, Sophie was able to see first-hand how the support from the Fund has positively impacted RAF veterans who may have been feeling isolated beforehand.

She said: “By the end of the break friendships had been made, numbers had been swapped and feelings of isolation and loneliness had been reduced significantly. Everyone had a very enriching time and for some, it was the first time they had been on holiday in many years. It's a privilege being able to offer help and support to our beneficiaries.”