Tuesday 8th October 2019
Two revamped play parks at RAF Coningsby have been officially re-opened, following works costing £100,000. The project, funded by RAF welfare charity the RAF Benevolent Fund, redeveloped the existing play areas.
The two play parks are located on Service Families Accommodation at Coningsby; the first at Cooke Crescent and the second at Lewis Road. The parks are part of the Fund’s commitment to support young people living on RAF stations. Known as Airplay and Ben Club, the Fund’s flagship youth support programme provides a safe place for children to hang out with their peers and access support if they need it.
Neil Sturtridge, Area Director at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said:
“We’re more than happy to have been able to make the refurbishment of the two play areas possible. The Fund exists to support the whole of the RAF family – including the children of serving personnel – so providing facilities like this is at the very core of what we do.”
Group Captain Mark Flewin, Station Commander at RAF Coningsby, added:
“I’m delighted to see the Play Park open today. We ask an enormous amount from our personnel and their families – it’s gratifying to be able to give them something back with this significant enhancement.
“I’d also like to say a formal thank you to all those – both on and off Station – who have been involved in this initiative; specifically the RAF Benevolent Fund for the valued support they have provided, not just on this project, but also for the many other ways in which they support the personnel at RAF Coningsby.”
The RAF Benevolent Fund provides emotional, financial and practical assistance to serving and retired RAF personnel and their families. In addition to offering individual station grants, this includes welfare breaks, grants to help with financial difficulty, specialist advice on benefits and support with care needs, and more.
This year the RAF Benevolent Fund celebrates its 100th anniversary. To mark the centenary, it has launched a campaign aimed at doubling the number of beneficiaries it supports. The Join The Search. Change a Life campaign encourages the public to get thousands of RAF veterans and their families ‘back on the radar’ and, if they need it, accessing support that is rightfully theirs.
Image: RAF Coningsby personnel with RAF Benevolent Fund and Proludic staff. Photo: RAF Benevolent Fund.
See also: Military charities
