CS Benevolent Fund Announces Record Levels of Help

In 2008, the Fund provided £4.65 million in more than 7,000 cases. Not only was the money given a £400,000 increase to the equivalent figure for 2007, it is £50,000 higher than the previous record, set in 2006.

It’s also the first time that the Fund has helped more than 7,000 people in a single year with financial aid.
The majority of the help provided (64.5%) went to current staff working within the civil service, or one of the associated organisations which retain the Fund as their occupational charity. For the first time in the Fund’s history, this equated to financial assistance totalling more than £3 million in this group.
And there was a dramatic rise in the amount of support given to people needing help with essential household bills. This rose by more than 27% in 2008, to £965,000.

The staff and children at the Royal Naval Air Station in Culdrose certainly don’t need to be told what the Fund can do.
For years they have been trying to raise money to build a new playground for the Day Nursery located within the base. Their fundraising efforts brought the target into sight, but without ever quite reaching it.
The Fund was there to provide the necessary funds through its Community Care Project reserve to complete its construction; a safe and stimulating area for the children, and a real lifeline for the staff who depend on the nursery for childcare when they are working on the site.

Speaking about the figures, the Fund’s Operations Director Beryl Evans says, “The figures show that the need for the Fund is greater than ever before, whether recipients are current or former civil servants, or their dependants.
“In a challenging economic climate, people who are struggling as a result of illness, low incomes, or relationship breakdown, need to be reassured that they approach us for support.
“It demonstrates that our services are relevant to the needs of today’s modern workforce and that we are getting things done, offering a confidential help and advisory service.
“But we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. We know that there are more people we could help, and we’re here for them, for life.”

A full breakdown of how the Fund’s help provision can be found on its website, at http://www.csbf.org.uk/help_and_advice/advice_channel/essential_downloads.htm.