PEOPLE in the Wee County are being urged to reach out to veterans as the RAF Benevolent Fund commemorates its 100th anniversary.

A members' business debate is to take place at the Scottish Parliament today to celebrate the fund, which used to provide a shilling for a night's lodging to give the recipient a chance to seek work.

Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, is among those keen to hail the benefits of the programme.

Mr Stewart will highlight how the charity works nowadays with financial, emotional and practical support for serving and former members, including the £1.13million spent in Scotland last year to support 290 people directly.

Ahead of the opening the debate with a speech, the MSP said: "They put on the uniform of our country when we needed them to, so it is only right that they know there is someone to be here for them when they themselves need help.

"The work that the RAFBF does to help all members of the RAF Family is truly astonishing; however, even with this amazing level of multi-faceted work they do, there are still a great many people who would benefit from the RAFBF's help but for many reasons have gone unnoticed.

"It is for this reason that the RAF Benevolent Fund has launched a major new campaign in its centenary year, which is entitled Join The Search. Change A Life and they are urging the country to help them repay the debt that we all owe to the RAF veterans – regulars and reservists – and their families who have served and who now may urgently need help.

"In particular, we must reach out to all our National Service and WWII veterans across the Wee County and, indeed, Scotland as a whole, before it is too late to do so."

Much of the "truly phenomenal" work done "may well go unseen by many", the Scottish Conservative man added.

He then congratulated and commended the organisation, its staff and volunteers for their "tireless and unstinting work".

Mr Stewart continued: "We all know that many from that generation are too proud to ask for help when they need it most, or maybe they simply do not know that the RAF Benevolent Fund is here to support them, so it is imperative that we all must find and help them before it's too late."