The CIBSE Benevolent Fund provides help for members, former members and their dependents who are in need, whether through sickness, bereavement or financial hardship.
The fund has almoners in all CIBSE regions apart from Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.
It can help people by making payments to supplement pensions, giving assistance towards the cost of equipment, such as a stairlift, and assisting with major, one-off bills.
During the pandemic, donations have fallen and the fund may have to dip into its reserves to try to minimise any hardship.
The standard quarterly grant has recently been increased from £500 to £600, to try to help with problems caused by inflation and rapidly increasing fuel bills.
The establishment of a Benevolent Fund was first suggested in 1933 by Mr Comyn Ching, then Vice President of the Institution of Heating and Ventilating Engineers and agreed by Council in October of that year. Mr Comyn Ching was the first chairman of the Benevolent Fund committee and was elected IHVE President in 1934.
Next year is the fund’s 90th anniversary, and it is hoped this will raise its profile and encourage more donations.
For more information visit: www.cibse.org/benfund