Royal Air Force Central Fund

The Fund supports a wide range of sports and physical activity interventions tailored to serving RAF personnel. This includes equipment grants for team sports such as football, polo, and sub-aqua clubs, bursaries for trainees in gliding and mechanics programmes, capital projects for station gyms and facilities, event participation in inter-services competitions and national fitness challenges, club development for niche activities, and team training. These activities address challenges like deployment stress, isolation, and maintaining peak physical condition, through inclusive sports programmes, outdoor adventures, peer-led fitness initiatives, and unit-level competitions. The Fund operates globally, serving the RAF community wherever they are based.

The Fund welcomes applications from RAF units, sports associations, and grassroots clubs that serve the serving RAF community. Priority is given to projects that directly benefit serving RAF personnel, including aircrew, ground crews, women’s teams, and multi-service collaborations, as well as their dependents. Both organisations and groups can apply, with a focus on sports clubs and physical activity initiatives. The Fund has no religious restriction and encourages unsolicited applications.

The Fund does not support non-sporting activities, general core costs, or unrestricted funding. Civilian programmes and any benefits to non-RAF personnel are excluded. All funding must be directed towards sport and physical activity for the serving RAF community.

The Fund provides a variety of grant types including equipment grants, bursaries, capital project funding, and support for event participation and club development. It often favours projects that demonstrate co-funding or a strong business case. The Fund works in partnership with RAF units, sports associations, and grassroots clubs, and welcomes unsolicited applications.