The Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA), one of the leading Royal Air Force welfare charities, has now launched its new Youth Membership scheme, rafa YOUTH, www.rafayouth.org.uk
rafa YOUTH is open to all young people aged 13-17 years old who are currently members of a recognised air-related uniformed youth organisation such as the Air Cadet Organisation, Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets or Air Scout/Air Explorer Scouts and who love flying, gliding, aviation, the Royal Air Force or who just want to be part of something special.
rafa YOUTH aims to: encourage volunteering/support; promote youth development through an air-related environment; increase awareness of RAFA and its role/purpose; and perhaps most importantly, do something that is fun and enjoyable for young people.
For an annual subscription of £10, rafa YOUTH members will receive an online membership card, exclusive high street discounts and offers, opportunities to volunteer and support the Charity and the first 1500 members will receive a free new design rafa YOUTH wristband. But it gets EVEN better – all rafa YOUTH members will be able to enter monthly free prize draws to win amazing prizes which include civilian flying lessons, one-day mini gliding courses, microlight flying, VIP days with the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (Red Arrows) and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Experience days with the Royal Air Force and BAE Systems, tandem sky-diving experiences or tickets for up to 10 people to spend a whole day paintballing at a local Delta Force Entertainment Centre…
Thanks to some excellent feedback on Air Cadet Central :worthy:, it is now also possible to give a gift of 12 months rafa YOUTH membership to an individual or to many individuals or even a whole Squadron, Troop or Section. The young people who are lucky enough to receive a gift membership voucher just sign up at www.rafayouth.org.uk ensuring that all the parental consent and data protection issues are dealt with directly by the Charity.
Thanks to everyone who assisted RAFA with the research and development phases of this new initiative - we really couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you :worthy:
It may also be worth adding that HQAC has authorised the rafa YOUTH wristband to be worn with air cadet uniform in accordance with the standing rules and regulations relating to other charity wristbands.
It is RAFA’s understanding that HQAC (via Sgt Badger) has agreed that the rafa YOUTH wristband is an official RAFA charity wristband so we weren’t expecting there to be any need to amend the AP but it is useful (thank you) to know that some commanding officers are not comfortable interpreting the spirit of the current wording of the AP to include the rafa YOUTH wristbands. We totally respect and support the fact that individual commanding officers will always have the deciding vote.
The youngest ever members of the RAF Association, rafa YOUTH, had a VIP experience on 2nd August at RAF Brize Norton with opportunities to fly the VC10 Simulator, tour around and then have lunch on the C17, view the Voyager and have an all-round amazing day.
It’s nothing personal. I can only go with what I’m told, and as much as I’d like it to be I can’t be following dress regulation advice without something in black and white to back me up on it.
They are different bands, say different things on them and people will interpret it the same way Incubus and I have. An all points email would clear up confusion, as would an amendment to AP1358c, to avoid precisely the situation you describe!
It’s nothing personal. I can only go with what I’m told, and as much as I’d like it to be I can’t be following dress regulation advice without something in black and white to back me up on it.
They are different bands, say different things on them and people will interpret it the same way Incubus and I have. An all points email would clear up confusion, as would an amendment to AP1358c, to avoid precisely the situation you describe![/quote]
Has there been anything out yet regarding these wristbands?
Agatha, good luck in all your efforts with RAFA Youth.
Unfortunately, I think that the only way to get the attention of HQAC is to set fire to their trousers whilst they’re wearing them! The next challenge is to get a straight, and non-reactionary answer
We’ve been informed that the ACO has updated and issued their new dress regulations and one of the changes is that cadets are now officially allowed to wear RAFA YOUTH Wrist bands with their with No 2 and No 3 dress variants.
Yee Ha! B)
Many thanks to HQ Air Cadets for their support! :worthy:
[quote=“Agatha” post=13411]We’ve been informed that the ACO has updated and issued their new dress regulations and one of the changes is that cadets are now officially allowed to wear RAFA YOUTH Wrist bands with their with No 2 and No 3 dress variants.
Yee Ha! B)
Many thanks to HQ Air Cadets for their support! :worthy:[/quote]
Here it is
Charity Wristbands. Policy regarding the wearing of charity wristbands is reviewed annually. Personnel may wear either of the following wristbands with No 2 and No 3 dress variants, RAFA, RAFBF and the Help the Heroes wristband In addition to those already listed cadets only, may wear the RAFA Youth wristband. Wristbands are not to be worn with formal orders of dress or for any other dress Inspections. The OC Wing / Sqn Ldr CCF HQAC shall be the arbiter upon what is or not an appropriate environment or occasion to wear charity wristbands.
[quote=“MattB” post=13415]I love how they can make even a simple regulation as that so unambiguous.
Does that mean that you can wear either the RAFA, RABF, H4H or RAFA Youth?
Or does it mean that you can wear a RAFA Youth one and either the RAFA, RABF or H4H one?[/quote]
I think common sense is the best approach here and that the writer meant that one charity wristband may be worn per person. The one wristband can be selected from the approved list H4H, RAFA, RAFBF in addition cadets may wear a RAFA Youth one.
Methinks its time to swap my H4H band for one of the RAF Charity ones. I’ve been weearing a H4Hs one for too long.
… 