We are proud to announce that our first-ever Summer Social event, held on Friday, 9th August, at the AFD offices on the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, was a resounding success—not just as a social gathering, but also as a meaningful opportunity to give back. Through the incredible generosity of our staff, customers, business partners, and local businesses, we raised £590. Airframe Designs gladly topped up this amount to £1,000, all of which will support the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Supporting a Cause Close to Our Hearts
As many of you know, the RAF Benevolent Fund provides essential support to serving and former members of the Royal Air Force, along with their partners and families. Given our close ties to the aerospace industry and the impact our work has on the RAF, this charity is particularly meaningful to us. We are proud to contribute to their mission and help those who have dedicated their lives to serving our country.
A Community Effort
The fundraising success was largely driven by the enthusiastic participation in our raffle, which featured a fantastic array of prizes generously donated by staff members and local businesses. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the following businesses, whose contributions made this possible:
- Common Bar & Kitchen
- Greggs Squires Gate
- Blackpool eBikes
- New Penny Poulton
- Village Hotel Golf Blackpool
- Wild Shore Blackpool
- Glazy Days Fleetwood
- Liquid Reset Ansdell
- A Se Anar
- Crafty Cottage
- Bistro St Annes
- BAE Systems Heritage Centre – Warton
- Preston Wall
- Henry Iddon Photography
- Debbie Frances Massage
- AFD Production Team
We would also like to give special recognition to the Boogie Bros, comprised of our very own Dean Kelly, and Ray Williams, who not only provided outstanding live entertainment but also generously contributed £250 of their fee to the fundraiser. Your support made this event even more impactful, and we are deeply grateful.
Without the contributions from all these individuals and businesses, our fundraising efforts would not have achieved such a fantastic outcome. Your generosity not only provided exciting prizes for our attendees but also contributed to the well-being of those who benefit from the RAF Benevolent Fund’s services.
Looking Ahead
The success of this event has set a new benchmark for future initiatives at AFD. Our CEO, Jerrod Hartley, commented on the occasion, saying, “This event was a powerful reminder of the strength of our community and the positive impact we can make when we come together. It was wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves while contributing to such a worthy cause.”
We are already looking forward to next year’s Summer Social and exploring more ways to support important causes while bringing our community together. In the meantime, we encourage you to learn more about the RAF Benevolent Fund and consider how you might contribute to their vital work.
A Final Thank You
Finally, a big thank you to Bryony and Ross for organising, and to everyone who attended the event and participated in the raffle. Your enthusiasm and generosity made this a day to remember, and together, we’ve made a significant contribution to a charity that’s close to our heart.
