A 75-YEAR-OLD Borders man has been shortlisted in the Welfare Caseworker of the Year category of the RAF Benevolent Fund’s annual awards.

The RAF Benevolent Fund is the RAF’s leading welfare charity, providing practical, financial, and emotional support to RAF personnel, veterans, and their partners and dependants.

George Prentice from Coldingham has been a volunteer caseworker with the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) Scotland team since 2011 and is also an honorary welfare officer supporting the Edinburgh branch.

He said: "Satisfaction in welfare work comes in two parts; there is the personal satisfaction from knowing that you are doing something worthwhile and fulfilling with your life, then there is the intense satisfaction when, with the assistance of the RAF Benevolent Fund, you are able to assist someone to put a broken life back together.

“I was amazed to find out that I had been shortlisted for an award. I had no idea that I was doing anything different from any other caseworker, but it really did give a feeling of something special.”

George joined the Royal Air Force as a boy entrant aged 15 in 1961 and served until 1971 when he left to pursue a civilian career.

Paul Hughesdon, Director of Welfare and Policy at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “Last year was a difficult period for many of us, but the lockdown restrictions and stay-at-home orders were particularly tough on older, isolated members of the RAF Family. We adapted our welfare provision to ensure their needs were being met, but this wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of caseworkers like George who go the extra mile to support our mission.”

The RAF Benevolent Fund Awards is now in its ninth year. The annual awards ceremony celebrates the outstanding contributions of the fundraisers, volunteers and partners who support the charity. The 2021 awards will take place on Thursday 21 October at Plaisterers’ Hall in London.

The RAF Benevolent Fund is the RAF’s leading welfare charity, providing practical, financial, and emotional support to RAF personnel, veterans, and their partners and dependants.