RAF100 COMMEMORATE, CELEBRATE, INSPIRE

RAF100

COMMEMORATE, CELEBRATE, INSPIRE

2018 marks 100 years of the Royal Air Force (RAF), the World’s first – and most famous -independent Air Force. Our brand is recognised throughout the World, the roundel synonymous with courage, adaptability and innovation. Our centenary year provides us with unique opportunities to:

• Commemorate 100 years of extraordinary success, achievement and sacrifice.
• Celebrate the professionalism and dedication of today’s RAF, which is airborne 24/7 supporting

the UK’s interests at home and abroad – whether defeating Daesh in Iraq and Syria,

or delivering humanitarian aid to where it’s needed most.

• Inspire future generations by telling our unique story – to the Nation and beyond.

RAF100 is the Campaign to support this milestone in the Nation’s history. It will launch officially on 1 April 2018 with the RAF100 Baton Relay and run for approximately six months, with a programme of public events at national and regional levels. There will be some limited RAF100 activity as we approach the public launch, including a House of Commons reception at Speaker’s House on 29 November 2017 to commemorate signing of the Royal Assent 100 years ago, which led to the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918. RAF100 will also support the national ‘Never Such Innocence’ arts competition and launch the RAF Youth/STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programme during autumn 2017. The centerpiece of RAF100 public-facing activity takes place on 10 July 2018, with a centenary service in Westminster Abbey, followed by a parade in The Mall and mass fly-past. This will be an unparalleled spectacle in modern times, with RAF100 BRIEF the potential to reach a global audience of millions, reinforcing the UK’s reputation at the forefront of defense aviation excellence. RAF100 will showcase the very best of the Service – with commemorative airshows throughout summer 2018, themed regional events and unique opportunities for the public to interact with us through a nationwide tour of famous aircraft from the past 100 years to the centers of some of the UK’s biggest cities. A key objective for the Campaign is to inspire future generations. To achieve this, we are placing particular emphasis on promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) throughout the Campaign. The benefits of this are twofold – at the RAF level, we hope to attract the brightest and the best to join us and help shape our future. More importantly, our promotion of STEM benefits the wider UK economy by highlighting in particular the importance of science and engineering skills against the background of a serious skills shortage at national level. The RAF100 Youth/STEM programme represents a very significant government investment in Youth/STEM education, with free, curriculum mapped education support, which will reach up to 2 million students nationally aged 9-15 years old. We will also use the Campaign to reach out to young women and BAME communities, who have historically been under-represented in the Armed Services. The Next Generation Air Force must reflect the society it serves, with diversity, inclusion and innovation central to our future ambition. The RAF100 Campaign supports the Government’s Plan for Britain: A Global Britain; a Stronger Economy, a Fairer Society; and a United Nation. RAF100 is also closely aligned to a range of Government initiatives, including the Year of the Engineer, the Scottish Government’s ‘Year of Young People’, and Vote100.

RAF100 BRIEF

RAF100 APPEAL, the charities associated with the Royal Air Force have a proud tradition of supporting the whole RAF Family. Together they provide help to those serving their country and their dependents, as well as veterans and the next generation. RAF100 provides great opportunities to build on the successes of the past 100 years and raise additional funds for the RAF Family. To maximise the opportunities that our centenary year brings, the RAF100 Appeal is being run as a joint venture between: The Royal Air Force The RAF Association The RAF Benevolent Fund The RAF Charitable Trust The RAF Museum Fundraising undertaken during RAF100 will be coordinated by the joint venture. The money raised will be shared between the four charities and other related charitable causes.