About

Relationship support for RAF personnel, their partners and families

It can be tough keeping relationships together in these difficult times and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund recognises that RAF couples face additional pressures, due to long periods of separation, the stress of active service, and having to live a long way from family and friends.

Call: 0845 077 5556 now
or click the button below to livechat with a Counsellor

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Who can get help?

That's why the RAF Benevolent Fund are offering to pay for confidential relationship support for anyone in the RAF and their partners, whether they are married, living together, separated, divorced, in a same sex relationship, or coping with the end of a relationship.

What sort of help is available?

The RAF Benevolent Fund is working with Relate who can provide you with advice or counselling on a wide range of issues that can affect your relationship including coping with separation, managing recall, re-negotiating roles, parenting, dealing with affairs, re-establishing trust, communication and sexual difficulties.

You could also attend a Relate relationship coaching course to help keep a good relationship strong or give you the skills to cope with difficult relationships.

Is the Service Confidential?

Yes. Everything you say to a Relate consultant, counsellor or trainer will remain confidential. No-one in the RAF will be told that you have accessed these services. You will need to give your service number, or your partner's service number, but this is solely so the RAFBF can check that it is only paying for those eligible for the services.

How much help can I get?

We will pay for up to six counselling sessions for everyone regardless of income. If you need more, further help will be available if you can't afford to pay.

We will also pay for couples or individuals to attend a Relate relationship coaching course.

Who do I contact?

To suit your lifestyle, hours of duty and place of deployment, support is being provided in a number of ways:

  • Call 0845 077 5556 if you want to book a face to face counselling session at your nearest Relate Centre or a telephone counselling appointment.
  • E-mail RelateOnline@relate.org.uk, quoting your service number, if you want e-mail counselling and a consultation form will be sent to you.
  • Click the button below to chat online to a Counsellor now.

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This can be a good way of seeing how a counsellor can help you before committing to a face to face appointment. Note that the Live Chat service is available on Monday - Friday from 9am to 5pm and on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday between 7-9pm but you can ring 0845 077 5556 to book an online session outside of these hours.

  • Call 0845 077 5556 if you want to find out about Relate relationship coaching courses in your area.

More about Relate

You can find out more about Relate and the services it offers by clicking on the 'home' tab above. If you want to read one of Relate's relationship books your SSAFA representative or local library may have a copy, or you can click here to visit Relate's bookshop section.

0845 077 5556
This is the dedicated helpline number for RAF personnel. Call it to speak to a trained Relate Response Consultant who can talk through all your options or book appointment for you to talk to a counsellor in person, over the telephone or online. Calls are answered Monday - Thursday 8am - 10pm, Friday 8am - 6pm and Saturday 9am - 5pm.