A new report commissioned by the RAF Central Fund has revealed the profound impact of sport and physical activity on both the wellbeing of personnel and the overall social value created within the service.

As outlined in the study, which was delivered in conjunction with 4Global, Myzone and Sheffield Hallam University – the RAF generates a staggering £6.5 million annually in social value through sport and physical activity. This figure is calculated using a range of metrics, including improvements in health, reductions in illness, and increases in life satisfaction among serving personnel.

The RAF Sport Awards, held earlier this month at Halton House, honoured the remarkable talent, dedication, and spirit of the Royal Air Force’s athletes, teams, coaches, administrators and volunteers.

Returning for the third year, the RAF Central Fund Unit Award recognised the best initiative encouraging and enabling serving personnel to get physically active. RAF Honington were named the 2024 winners for their 'Wellness Wednesday' project, an initiative set up to encourage personnel to take time out of their working environment to alleviate stress and help their work-life balance.

A range of opportunities were organised for the community to engage in, from accessible low impact activity such as dog walking groups, through to challenging functional fitness sessions and a swimathon attracting around 500 individuals.

Their initiative has proactively supported and positively impacted the physical, social and mental wellbeing of personnel on Station, reaching an additional cohort of around 100 personnel that weren’t previously engaged in regular physical activity.

The fundamental change in their approach to the mental and physical wellbeing of personnel has enabled closer bonds to form between individuals and in teams, creating a noticeably more positive environment for people to work in.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees this year, we are incredibly proud to support such incredible sporting talent within the RAF.

Combining elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong, pickleball is a sport rising in popularity across the RAF. With its unique blend of accessibility, fun and competitiveness, pickleball offers a great opportunity for people of all ages and fitness levels to get involved in sport, from avid athletes to beginners looking for a new physical activity. 

2024 has been a pivotal year for pickleball at RAF Marham, following a request for grant funding to help set up a new club. We recently heard from Flt Lt Sandra Butcher about its rising popularity and the success they have had in their first year as a new club.

“With the help of an RAF Central Fund Enrichment Grant, the Marham Pickleball Club has purchased all the basic equipment required to set up the club. We now have 27 members and meet at least once a week on a Wednesday evening from 7-9pm. Getting involved in a new sport has been a great platform to build friendships and connections.”