Airplay Forum: The Fund speaks to young people supported by Airplay

The RAF Benevolent Fund hosted an Airplay Forum this month at the Fund HQ, inviting young people to share their experiences and offer ideas to improve the scheme for the future. We heard from young people about how Airplay has been there to support them within their military community.

Airplay is the Fund’s national youth work programme which provides a safe and fun place for the children and young people of the RAF Family across 28 stations to learn and hang out with their peers.

Airplay provides an invaluable service designed to address the unique challenges faced by RAF families, by giving children and young people access to facilities, a safe, stimulating programme of activities and some much-needed continuity if and when their family relocates.

Simon Harper, Director of Grants, Services and Programmes and Executive Lead for Safeguarding at the Fund, said: "It was a pleasure for the RAF Benevolent Fund to host the 2023 Airplay Youth Forum with One YMCA. The Forum is a brilliant opportunity for the young people who use Airplay to determine its future and set out what they would like to see. The insight, enthusiasm, and knowledge our young people bring to Airplay is remarkable and the Forum was a huge success."

In 2022, Airplay delivered 3,037 sessions which translated to over 6,000 hours of activities for children and young people across the RAF.

We spoke to a few of the children, aged 12-15, taking part in the Forum at the Fund, about their experience being part of a military family and how Airplay has been there for them.

Emma said: "Airplay has helped a lot because my mum has an illness, and the support workers at Airplay are always there to help. Airplay gives us time away which helps you clear your head for a few hours and gives you a break from home life. My favourite part is getting our voices heard and our point of view across. Knowing people at Airplay are there to listen to us and take our ideas on board is really comforting." 

Emma continued: "One of the biggest differences I have experienced is moving from a city to a small town. Moving away from my family has been really hard at times, but a positive I take from it is that you’re in a new area, meeting new people and having new experiences daily. Airplay has helped me to feel comfortable, connect with people and feel like I can trust everyone."

George is another young person benefitting from the service. He said: "I really enjoy the youth clubs at Airplay. I’ve moved around a lot across the country, so they have helped me to see more people, make friends and take part in fun activities. You can share your life experiences which are often similar, as well as anything that might be troubling you - usually you will find someone else who is going through the same thing as you.

"My dad, granddad, and great-granddad, all served in the military. It's a very up-front, honest, and respectful line of work. I feel really proud of my dad’s service in the military. It’s great seeing him with the RAF guys and especially on TV! I look up to my dad and respect him a lot; it’s made me consider a future in the armed forces."

Layla has been part of the Airplay community for three consecutive years. She said: "I love that you get to experience things that others might not get the opportunity to. I’ve been to London which I loved, especially all the amazing sights to see and the views! I think Airplay helps you to take advantage of what’s on offer to you.

"I am most proud to have a stepdad in the RAF – you can see how hard they work for us. We have moved twice with the RAF; moving from Wittering to Waddington was difficult because we’d been in Wittering for five years and all my friends were there. 

"My dad also served in the army when I was a baby. He left when I was two years old because he was serving in Afghanistan, and he wanted to be home to see me."

Speaking on the day's events, Guy Foxell, CEO of One YMCA said: "It was brilliant to spend time with the Airplay Youth Forum members as they told us about their experiences of the nationwide programme and how we could make it even better next year. 

"To have well thought-through ideas and feedback from such articulate and impressive young people, gives us a great foundation for us to plan ahead with the YMCAs involved with Airplay, the RAF bases and the generous funders, the RAF Benevolent Fund."

Find out more information about the Airplay programmes available here.