Supporting the Club

Help Preserve the Future of Your Club with a Donation or Legacy
 

Our Legacy Vision

2018 marked the centenary year of the Royal Air Force and its very own ‘home from home’, the Royal Air Force Club. The Club ooperates as a Charity and membership continues to offer a host of benefits, including use of the Grade II listed club in central London, accommodation, exceptional dining and elegant private banqueting rooms perfect for reunions and celebrations. 

For so many the Club is rich in memories created over the years, associated with good times spent with friends, colleagues and fellow members. With its shared Royal Air Force history, the Club is a uniquely special place, which celebrates the past endeavours of great men and women, whilst also looking to the future.

To help preserve this future for generations of serving and former serving officers to come, you can either give today in the form of a donation - either a one off cash donation, a regular direct debit donation, or through a legacy for the future. Anything from 1% of estate upwards can be given – a legacy does not need to be a large gift and costs nothing to give. Any donation is very much appreciated.

Our Promise To You

Your money will be used wisely and efficiently and retained within a dedicated ‘Legacies & Donations’ fund and utilised for special projects around the Club. If you have a particular Club project in mind that you would like to actively support, please do let us know.

Examples of past gifts that have had a long lasting impact are the iconic RAF Stained Glass Window, an eye-catching focal point of the Club, only possible through a one-off donation. The Library has also benefited from generous donations in recent years, enabling us to add to the collection of post WWII books for members benefit.

Unless you prefer to remain anonymous, your donation or legacy will be officially recognised by the Chief Executive & Secretary, with a list of donors appearing on the Club’s website.The Club adheres and abides to the Fundraising Regulator’s guidance and Code of Fundraising Practice

Why Support Us?

The Royal Air Force Club operates as a Charity, with its Charitable Aims and Mission designed to support members and their families in a comfortable RAF-friendly environment:

To provide high quality and affordable facilities and services in central London for Club Members, in order to preserve, promote and foster the traditions of the Royal Air Force.

The Club only exists through the generosity and goodwill of its founder, Lord Cowdray back in 1918 and we are forever mindful of this gift, which allowed the purchase and development of the clubhouse at 128 Piccadilly.

In October 1918, the first Viscount Cowdray, President of the Air Board, sent a letter outlining his practical support for the establishment of an RAF Club to the then Chairman of the Royal Flying Corps Club, Sir Sefton Brancker. Enclosed was a cheque for £100,000 “…sufficient to ensure a permanent Club House worthy of the airmen and of their ‘brilliant and superlative heroic work.’”

“A more valuable form of assistance at this point in the history of the youngest of the Services could not have been conceived, and your name will go down to the coming generations of airmen, not only as their first Minister, but as their greatest personal benefactor.”

Today, any surplus from the Club’s day to day operation is reinvested to improve the facilities and services for members. The Club’s - Centenary Wing is the most substantial project since its founding 100 years ago and with no one benefactor covering the costs of this impressive project, individual donations and legacies are crucial to help augment this work. 

Smaller gifts also help fund special projects such as the installation of the Centenary Stained Glass Window, recognising the contribution of Women in the Service of the RAF the Dining Room’s stunning new Art Collection, launched in autumn 2018.

How do I leave a legacy for the future?

For many of us it may suit our financial planning to make provision for supporting the RAF Club, after we have gone. Please do consider your Club when you are making, or re-drafting your Will. A gift left in your Will can make a lasting difference and leave a legacy which will perpetuate your memory, whilst helping those who carry on. This can be a percentage of your will, ‘£x,000’ or ‘the proceeds of the sale of my house’ or ‘the residue of my estate after all other legacies have been paid’.

Amending a Will - A codicil is a document used to change a Will that has already been made.
For further information please visit https://www.rememberacharity.org.uk/making-a-will/leave-a-gift-to-charity/

There can be no better way to give something back to the Club that we have loved, than to help others enjoy it in the future.

Further Information

If you have any specific questions regarding making a donation or a legacy, please contact Charlotte Gray charlotte@rafclub.org.uk or call 020 7399 1082. 

Useful Links

General Information on Charitable Giving

Find a Solicitor - The Law Society

Making a Will – The Law Society

How to leave a gift to charity in your will

Will Writing Jargon Buster