ROYAL AIR FORCE SMALL ARMS ASSOCIATION

Registered charity 1176860 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as RAFSAA

The object of the CIO is to promote the efficiency of His Majesty's Armed Forces in such charitable ways as the Trustees think fit with particular reference to increasing physical fitness fostering the esprit de corps, raising morale of members, encouraging disciplined marksmanship among members of the Royal Air Force therefore contributing to the defence of the realm.

Objects

THE OBJECT OF THE CHARITY IS TO PROMOTE MILITARY EFFICIENCY OF HIS MAJESTY’S ARMED FORCES IN SUCH CHARITABLE WAYS AS THE TRUSTEES THINK FIT WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO: (A) INCREASING PHYSICAL FITNESS; (B) FOSTERING ESPRIT DE CORPS; (C) RAISING MORALE; OF MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE; AND (D) ENCOURAGING DISCIPLINED MARKSMANSHIP AMONGST MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE, CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS THE DEFENCE OF THE REALM.IN PARTICULAR, (BUT NOT BY WAY OF LIMITATION), THE TRUSTEES MAY FURTHER THE OBJECT THROUGH ENCOURAGING AND FACILITATING THE PARTICIPATION IN, AND PROVISION OF OR ASSISTING IN THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR, SMALL ARMS SHOOTING IN THE ROYAL AIR FORCE.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Amateur Sport · Armed Forces/emergency Service Efficiency · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£216k

Latest spending

£246k

Registered

2018

Accounts read

FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure of £30,042 for the year, driven by operational costs exceeding static grant income from the RAF Central Fund. While the charity maintains a surplus from its clubhouse and accommodation trading activities, it faces financial strain due to inflation and aging infrastructure, resulting in net current liabilities of £753. The trustees express confidence in future cash flow but note that reserves are not growing at an acceptable rate to meet future maintenance aspirations.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Complaints handling
Conflicting interests
Paying staff
Risk management
Volunteer management

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

RAF Central Fund — “Proud Supporters RAF Central Fund” (source page)

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

Air Commodore WILLIAM DOUGLAS COOPER
Colin Sach
Group Captain - Retd ROBERT JOHN FISHWICK JP
Group Captain Andrew Glazebrook
Squadron Leader ADRIAN NEIL WATERS
Wing Commander - Retd CHRISTOPHER JAMES HOCKLEY OBE · trustee of 1 other charity
Wing Commander JEFFREY MARK FITZPATRICK

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2024	£216k	£246k
31/12/2023	£213k	£234k
31/12/2022	£217k	£218k
31/12/2021	£255k	£149k
31/12/2020	£136k	£133k

Common questions

Is ROYAL AIR FORCE SMALL ARMS ASSOCIATION financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure of £30,042 for the year, driven by operational costs exceeding static grant income from the RAF Central Fund. While the charity maintains a surplus from its clubhouse and accommodation trading activities, it faces financial strain due to inflation and aging infrastructure, resulting in net current liabilities of £753. The trustees express confidence in future cash flow but note that reserves are not growing at an acceptable rate to meet future maintenance aspirations. Its FY2024 accounts were independently examined.

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
NUFFIELD TRUST FOR THE FORCES OF THE CROWN	1	£6k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE ROYAL AIR FORCE RUGBY UNION.

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE RUGBY UNION income £135k
THE ROYAL NAVY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION income £193k
ROYAL AIR FORCE HIGH WYCOMBE OFFICERS' MESS income £313k
THE ROYAL AIR FORCE CLUB income £13.1m
ROYAL AIR FORCE MOTORSPORTS ASSOCIATION income £178k
OFFICERS' MESS RAF CONINGSBY income £217k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
ROYAL AIR FORCE SMALL ARMS ASSOCIATION	£216k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE ROYAL AIR FORCE RUGBY UNION FY2024	£135k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE ROYAL NAVY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION FY2025	£193k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
ROYAL AIR FORCE HIGH WYCOMBE OFFICERS' MESS FY2025	£313k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
THE ROYAL AIR FORCE CLUB FY2025	£13.1m	£170,000 - £179,999	—	below	—	no doubt
ROYAL AIR FORCE MOTORSPORTS ASSOCIATION FY2025	£178k	—	0	unclear	—	noted

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.