Creative and digital experience agency Access has been recruited by the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund to help the charity meet the growing need of people requiring support within the RAF family. The appointment follows a four-way competitive pitch process.

Established at the end of the first world war, the RAF Benevolent Fund exists to supports those currently serving in the RAF, retired personnel and their families – around 71,000 recipients per year. Central to the Fund’s growth plan is to create a more effective website, and Access has been tasked with designing and building a new web platform within the coming months.

The aim of the digital transformation is to deliver greater user engagement and site actions, such as applications for support, donations, event sign ups and downloads. By creating an improved user journey for both supporters and beneficiaries and a best-in-class user experience, the fund hopes to expand its reach.

The fund’s support spans welfare breaks, grants to help with financial difficulty, specialist advice on benefits and support with care needs and mobility equipment, as well as help for young people through its Airplay programme.

Patrick Hamilton, operations director at Access, says, “Access has a proven track record of creating highly effective digital experience platforms that are enabling charities to increase donations and actions taken on its site. The agency’s ongoing work with WaterAid has enabled it to not only increase mobile conversion rate by 244% and overall conversion by 63% compared to the previous website, but lower the bounce rate.

“Effective digital platforms have become vital for many charities to keep going, not only to maintain or grow donations but to engage with their audiences. The RAF Benevolent Fund helps so many people who have given their lives to our country and this is a charity we’re extremely proud to be working with."