Community Matters

The Royal International Air Tattoo is staged by the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE), the trading arm of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT).

Since it was established in 2005, RAFCT has awarded around £1.5 million in grants that seek to promote the Royal Air Force, support its people now and into the future and encourage airmindedness among the young.

Listed below are just a few of the ways in which RAFCTE, organiser of the world's largest military airshow, has been benefiting your local community:

  • In 2010, RAFCTE spent £941,000 in Gloucestershire, £633,000 in Wiltshire and £74,000 in Oxfordshire setting up the airshow. When accommodation, food, fuel and other sundries are added, it is estimated that millions more is generated in the surrounding counties, with the Service and Tourism industries receiving the biggest boosts.
  • As in previous years, complimentary Air Tattoo tickets are regularly made available to schools, charities and organisations in the area – on a rotational basis - to help them raise money. Among those to benefit in 2010 were: St Mary's Fete, Fairford; Castle Eaton Village Fete; Fairford Festival, Meysey Hampton School, S Cerney National Angling Festival; Tetbury Woolsack Race Raffle/Auction; Burford Firefighters' Charity Ball; Kempsford Pre School; Southrop Village Fete; Cold Aston C of E Primary School; The Churn Project; Lechlade Cricket Club; Cheltenham Hospital Oncology Cancer Centre; The Friends of Kempsford School; Swindon PDSA and the Gloucestershire Deaf Association.
  • In 2010, the Lechlade and District Lions' Club and the Rotary Club of Cirencester received donations after helping sell programmes at the Air Tattoo.
  • It donates money to the Anglo-American Community Fund, based at Lechlade, which helps visiting Forces reach out to the local community.
  • It sponsors the Outstanding Business Student of the Year Award for Yr 11 students at Farmor's School as part of the Fairford and Lechlade Business Club Awards.
  • In addition to helping sponsor the Kempsford Literary Festival, RAFCTE sponsors Fairford Town Youth Football Club U-13s' football kit and clothing for the Swindon Sonics Ladies Basketball Team.
  • The Air Tattoo offers work experience opportunities for local schools.
  • Local homeowners turn spare rooms into B&B accommodation, homes with drives 'rent out' private parking spaces and organisations/landowners – including Fairford Town Football Club – open campsites.
  • The Air Tattoo provides a number of employment opportunities. The majority of RAFCTE's 45 permanent staff lives in Wiltshire or Gloucestershire, with at least 10 coming from the immediate area. A further 10 staff members are employed on temporary contracts.
  • The Air Tattoo lent 50 national flags to the Fairford and Lechlade Flag Festival in 2010

 

In the Community

Each year, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises produces a Residents' Newsletter for people living in communities surrounding – or close to – RAF Fairford. It provides a wide range of information about the forthcoming airshow as well as contact details in case local residents require assistance over the airshow period.

We also host a Local Representatives' Briefing, traditionally in May, to outline our plans for the Air Tattoo to parish, town, district and county councillors as well as other interested parties.

If you have a community matter relating to the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, or any of its activities, please email