CIBSE NEWS Falling donations HOW THE FUND HAS HELPED: Overall number and % of CIBSE members who donate Moving back home A member who had been in the industry since the 1930s, a member of CIBSE for more than 50 years, chair of his regions committee for four years, and actively fundraised for the Benevolent Fund sought out the Funds assistance as his health deteriorated. His wife was in a nursing home, while he was living at home with a carer, and he wanted his wife to move back home with him. The Benevolent Fund helped him achieve his wish by widening the doorways in their home, to allow wheelchair access. New bathroom | BENEVOLENT FUND Year Total renewed Total donated % donated 2019 14,584 4,788 33% 2020 14,706 5,424 37% 2021 14,502 4,964 34% 2022 14,533 4,123 28% List of almoners Region Almoner East Anglia Jim Stocker East Midlands Alan McWilliam HCNE Ray Gooding HCNW Vacancy HCSE Peter Raynham HCSW Vacancy Merseyside & N Wales Stephen Wynn North East John Sproxton North West Chris Sealy Bereavement help Northern Ireland John Davidson A member died after a serious illness and his widow was left in financial difficulty. The Fund assisted until she no longer needed support. Scotland John McLean South Wales Keith Patterson South West David O Bryan A client in Australia lost her husband, a long-standing CIBSE Member, and was left as a single parent to three school-age children. The Fund supported her with a quarterly grant. Southern Ken Beecroft West Midlands Alan McWilliam Yorkshire Steve Sutcliffe Australia & New Zealand Ian Small Ireland Paul Martin A member contracted a serious disease, resulting in them being unable to climb the stairs in their home. The Fund helped with the cost of converting a downstairs room into a toilet and shower room, and as they were unable to work it supported them financially with regular grant cheques. Illness support The Fund was able to provide support for an individual who, because of ill health, was no longer able to work, and whose spouse was also seriously ill. The individual had significant additional expenses because of their illness, and the Fund was able to provide a quarterly grant and some one-off expenses. Financial aid A member struggled to maintain his business because of difficulty in obtaining payment for his work, and lost the family home. Citizens Advice recommended he contact CIBSE and the Fund supported him with a standard quarterly grant. If you would like to become an almoner in any of the two regions with vacancies, contact benfund@cibse.org or your local regional branch. www.cibsejournal.com December 2023 15 CIBSE Dec 23 pp14-15 CIBSE News Benevolent Fund.indd 15 24/11/2023 17:53