HIVE ABUZZ WITH TRUST GRANT AWARD
THE Royal Air Force Charitable Trust is showing continuing support for serving personnel by awarding a £3,000 grant to refurbish facilities at RAF Benson in South Oxfordshire.
The Trust, parent charity of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises which organises the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, was approached for funds to refurbish the HIVE facility at the Wallingford base, to accommodate the Citizen's Advice Bureau which runs a well-attended regular clinic.
With four squadrons at the base – they are 28 (AC) Sqn, 78 Sqn, 33 Sqn and No 606 (Chiltern) Sqn RAF – around 2,000 serving personnel are stationed there. The grant award has enabled the facility to be refurbished to a good standard, including decoration, minor building work and furniture.
Flight Lieutenant Paul Warner, Officer Commanding Personnel Services Flight, said: "The grant from the RAF Charitable Trust has enabled RAF Benson to refurbish the HIVE and the office used by external welfare agencies to provide a more modern and relaxing environment. The HIVE is vital in providing information and support to Station personnel and their families, and the assistance provided by the Trust will help ensure that it is developed into a fitting first-class facility."
Trustee Mr Fred Crawley, who attended the reopening of the refurbished HIVE, said: "The Trustees are delighted to award this grant to RAF Benson, as it meets one of the charity's key objectives - supporting the RAF family."
The Trust is keen to support project-based initiatives, and welcomes applications for grants from charities and organisations that are part of the Royal Air Force family.
