RAF Benevolent Fund's new specialist caseworker team to support RAF Family

The RAF Benevolent Fund has appointed new specialist caseworkers to support members of the RAF Family across the UK. 

The team now comprises Veronica Young (Eastern Scotland), Caroline Belch (Central Scotland), Natalie Young (North West England) Kevin Hughes (South East England), Stuart Gray (East Midlands) and Matt Rowe (East of England). 

Welfare Support Executives (WSEs) provide specialist caseworking support to members of the RAF Family that call our helpline asking for our support. 

They visit beneficiaries at home to assess the individuals’ circumstances and to create a tailored support plans. 

This could involve assisting the applicant to complete a Fund application form, but it could also involve supporting the applicant to navigate statutory welfare services to which they are entitled, support from the NHS, local authorities or other charities. They provide tailored holistic support. 

Peter Ashcroft, the RAF Benevolent Fund's Head of Community Welfare Programmes, said: "Traditionally this support has been provided by volunteer caseworkers from the RAF Association and SSAFA. The Fund still relies on the good work of these volunteers, but we have recruited the WSEs to support some of the most complicated cases – applicants with complicated welfare needs including, but not limited to, serious debts, homelessness and mental health issues – and boost overall caseworking capacity. We have deliberately recruited staff with a varied set of skills and experience from across mental health, social work and housing."

The Fund previously had Welfare Support Executives in the South East of England, East of England, East Midlands and North West England and is now pleased to increase representation and a demonstration of the Fund's commitment to the RAF Family in Scotland. The new roles have been partially funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds. 

The two new hires' areas of coverage are as follows:  

Veronica Young – East of Scotland (Moray, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, Angus, Perth and Kinross, Dundee City, Fife, Clackmannanshire)

Caroline Belch – Central Scotland (Argyll & Bute, Ayrshire and Arran (North, East and South), Dumfries and Galloway, Stirling, North & South Lanarkshire, Scottish Borders, Renfrewshire, East and West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde, Midlothian, East Lothian, West Lothian, Edinburgh City and Glasgow City.)

Peter added: "The Fund has never had its own caseworking staff on the ground in Scotland. These appointments will help to increase overall caseworking capacity in Scotland and puts paid welfare professionals on the ground providing tailored, professionals support for our most vulnerable beneficiaries."