RAFCT CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR ATC

Since the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT) was established two years ago, more than £150,000 has been handed over to the Air Cadet Organisation to support a variety of projects.

These have included helping to fund flying scholarships, a trophy for Flying Excellence and the purchase of rifles for ATC training. The charity is also keen to support adventure training activities such as the Ulysses Trust’s Expedition Jubilee Eagle, which organised a successful trip to Ghana for 20 cadets from the Corps’ Middlesex Wing.

The expedition was the first joint training expedition between the UK and Africa and involved the Cadets in helping to refurbish a school in north east Ghana and to set up a store of adventure training equipment for the Ghanaian cadets.

On their return, Cadet Flight Sergeant Unsa Chaudri, of the Middlesex Wing, gave an impressive account of the expedition to the trustees of both the RAF Charitable and Ulysses Trusts. Speaking for all those present, RAFCT Chairman Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Knight said it was wonderful to hear, at first-hand, how well the money had been used.

“Unsa gave a wonderfully-assured presentation which really brought home to us the value of supporting such a worthwhile project. We were extremely grateful to her.”

The latest Air Cadet initiative to win the support of the Charitable Trust is the provision of equipment to support Commandant Air Cadets’ exciting plans to create 12 Regional Activity Centres across the UK.

A grant of £73,000 has been agreed to buy six flight simulators as well as radio equipment for the centres.

Since 2005, the RAFCT has handed out a total of more than £370,000 to a wide range of RAF-related charities and organisations, including the Royal Air Forces Association, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, the Maritime Air Trust and the RAF & Dependents’ Disabled Holiday Trust.