Two respite homes for RAF veterans face closure after donations dry up amid the coronavirus pandemic – leaving the Royal Air Forces Association with a 40 per cent black hole in their annual income
- More than 1,100 ex-servicemen and women go to Wings Breaks homes annually
- Because of pandemic, Royal Air Forces Association said it is now short of funds
- Final decision on the future of the respite care break facilities expected Monday
Two respite care break facilities for RAF veterans face imminent closure because charitable donations have dried up in the pandemic.
More than 1,100 ex-servicemen and women, many in their 70s and 80s, go to the Wings Breaks homes every year for short stays to give their families a rest.
But because of the pandemic, the Royal Air Forces Association said it was now short of funds – leaving it with a 40 per cent black hole in their annual income.
A final decision on the future of the homes – which have also been unable to open during the pandemic because of social-distancing rules – is expected on Monday.
Flowerdown House in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, (pictured) is one of two respite care break facilities for RAF veterans face imminent closure because charitable donations have dried up in the pandemic
Announcing a consultation, the association said in a statement: ‘We owe it to every single person who has risked their life for our country to ensure that Covid-19 doesn’t prevent us from supporting them in the future.’
Retired Air Marshal Sir Chris Coville said there was ‘great sadness’ at the move to close the respite homes, given how vital the welfare was, but there was little choice.
He added: ‘The welfare side is absolutely vital because we are seeing a number of people dependent on the service. There has been a substantial drying up of funds going into the association since the start of Covid.’ Sir Chris went on: ‘There has been a diversion away from the service charities because of Covid and because people don’t have as much money in their pocket.
One Wings Breaks facility, Rothbury House, Northumberland, provides breaks, with respite and recovery care available. There are also ten sheltered-housing flats
‘The nation has other heroes, the National Health Service for example, and rightly so. In the past that money probably would have found its way to other charities like service charities.’ He added: ‘I am confident the RAF Association executives are making the right decisions, albeit with great sadness.’
Former head of the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Graydon, said of the move: ‘It is a telling commentary on what the country is facing across all boundaries, a new normal which until a vaccine is found is having a dramatic effect on our way of life.’
One Wings Breaks facility, Rothbury House, Northumberland, provides breaks, with respite and recovery care available. There are also ten sheltered-housing flats.
The other, Flowerdown House in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, can accommodate up to 37 people at a time.
The RAF Association has warned that it has estimated its income will decrease by £7.3million this year and its investments by some £2.5million – a total financial impact of £10million.