CIBSE Benevolent Fund: Protecting the CIBSE family
PAUL MARTIN, Almoner, Ireland Region, CIBSE Benevolent Fund, highlights the life-changing impact of the Fund and urges members to protect this vital safety net as donation rates hit a record low.
The CIBSE Benevolent Fund Trust is a registered charity that operates locally, internationally, and independently from CIBSE. It exists in parallel to support members, former members, and their dependents who have fallen on hard times. As an almoner, I have seen firsthand how the CIBSE Benevolent Fund provides essential financial aid, advice, and a sympathetic ear to those experiencing significant need or distress.
The Fund’s mission is simple: “Support the CIBSE family during times of hardship and ill health”.
This assistance is available to those who have paid subscriptions for at least three years and find themselves in difficult circumstances due to illness, bereavement, or a financial crisis. Whether it is a long-term commitment for ongoing needs or a one-off grant to cover an unexpected bill, the Fund is here to help.
CIBSE Benevolent Fund impact
The impact of this support is lifechanging. For instance, the Fund recently assisted a member who contracted a serious disease and could no longer climb stairs by covering the cost of converting a downstairs room into a toilet and shower room. In another case, the Fund supported the widow of a long-standing member in Australia, providing a quarterly grant to help her raise three school-age children on her own.
Crucially, all support is handled with the highest ethical standards; the identity of beneficiaries is kept strictly confidential, known only to the local Almoner.
Here to help
If you are in need of assistance or know of someone who may be going to difficult times, please share this article with them and contact me directly at cibseirelandalmoner@gmail.com
All conversations and applications are held in strictest of confidence. We are aware that their may be a hesitation from some members to reach out for assistance but the CIBSE Benevolent fund is here to help. Give what you can I am calling on every CIBSE Ireland member to help us reverse this trend. When you receive your membership renewal, please tick the box to donate just £10 (approximately €12) to the CIBSE Benevolent Fund.
If you have already renewed your membership for this year and want to make a donation now, please visit the Fund website listed below to make a donation.
This small gesture, when multiplied across our membership, makes a massive difference.
For those who can do more, we have launched a new Sustaining Member scheme with a £50 annual donation, and a Sustaining Employer scheme for companies at £100 per year. In Ireland, the CIBSE Ireland committee donated €5,000 this year to demonstrate our commitment.
The CIBSE Community
CIBSE is a global community with local impact; we must be there for each other. Please support your colleagues by donating £10, and stay alert to any members who may be in distress and could benefit from our help. Together, we can ensure that no member of our community has to face hardship alone.
To contact the Ireland Region Almoner directly on any matters relating to the Benevolent Fund, email cibseirelandalmoner@gmail.com To learn more or make a donation, visit www.cibse.org/about-cibse/benevolent-fund