Connections for Life

Our Connections for Life service entails friendship telephone calls from volunteers to beneficiaries within the RAF community who maybe experiencing loneliness, adapting to life after service or just looking for a general chat. We will provide you with all the necessary training so you can rest assured that you will have all the skills you need. As a Connections Volunteer, you will have the support of a dedicated coordinator as your point of contact. A RAF or forces background is not essential, and we welcome applications from all areas of the community.

About the organisation

The Royal Air Forces Association (or RAF Association), is a membership organisation and registered charity that provides welfare support to the RAF Family.

The RAF Family includes all serving and ex-serving personnel and their dependants. To be eligible for welfare support, for both themselves and those who depend upon them, service personnel need to have served a minimum of one day in the RAF.

The Association exists in the recognition that RAF personnel and their immediate families dedicate their lives to their country, and to ensure that such a sacrifice does not result in suffering, poverty or loneliness.

Whether it’s an injured airman fighting to get back on his feet, a young child missing their parent away on overseas operations, or a World War II veteran needing a shoulder to lean on, we are here to help all generations of RAF Service personnel and their families.

**Please check your Junk email folder in case any emails end up here, we will be touch with you within a few days by email. Friendly reminder that the charities/organisations emails may end up here too. **

Skills

Patience and Empathy Friendly nature/rapport Good listener Ability to maintain boundaries Reliability

1. Minimum time commitment for the role would be 6 months. However, volunteers can choose the frequency of the calls that they make – approximately 30 minutes a week.
2. Yes, the role is suitable for people with mobility problems – role is 100% home based.
3. The role will require 2 x character references. Referees have to be over 18 years of age and not a family member/relative.
4. We welcome applicants from all areas of the community.

Applicants have to be over 18 and willing to commit to the role for a minimum of 6 months