Our impact When I hit rock bottom you were there for me...

Transcription

1 Our impact 2011 When I hit rock bottom you were there for me...

2 Who are we? We re the Charity for the Civil Service community. We re here for you, offering support and advice when you need it most. Who do we help? We help people who work, or have worked, in the Civil Service, and their families whether you were a civil servant for a short time or your whole working life. How do we help? Nobody can predict life s twists and turns stuff happens, and can happen to any of us. We re there for you and your family when times are tough. Whether it s money worries, falling ill, living somewhere below minimum standards or losing someone you love, we can help. Advice and support Advisors Our trained advisors help with a wide range of issues, from disability to money problems and redundancy. First contact is generally made by to: help@foryoubyyou.org.uk Or call us on freephone: ,300 calls In 2011, the Charity s helpline received over 9,300 calls.

3 Referral to professionals Sometimes people need more specialist advice to deal with specific problems. Our helpline staff can give you contact details for specialist agencies and help to get things sorted. Thank you for sending me the literature on Debt Management, the information you ve provided will help teach me how to handle my finances better. Financial Assistance Whatever your money worries, we may be able to help or give you a breathing space while you sort them out. If a crisis happens, the family splits, someone dies or you lose your job we can provide money to ease the stress. If you need to buy furniture, adapt your home or pay for essential repairs, we re there for you. We also act quickly in emergencies such as fire or flood and can help you pay for what you need right now. This cash was a huge help, you never think that you ll need this sort of help but sometimes things happen that you can t plan for. 5,720 people In 2011 we helped 5,720 people with cash payments totaling 4 million.

4 Arranging nursing or residential care We re here to help you find the right place to look after someone you love. Wherever you live, we can visit at home or at work to talk through the options and sometimes provide financial help. Carer s Passport As many as 30,000 civil servants across the UK have caring responsibilities. Our Carer s Passport helps you to identify where you might need additional support to meet your caring responsibilities and then help you and your manager make reasonable adjustments at work. 347 passports 2011 was the first year we offered the Carer s Passport. Just under 700 people approached us about it and half of them are already actively using their own Passports. The fact that this document is to be held on my file is of great reassurance to me because I know that this is available for any future managers to view, therefore not having to continually go over my situation.

5 At HMRC we ve found the Carer s Passport invaluable it s helped our staff achieve their full potential at work and address their caring responsibilities in a way that benefits both the individual and the department. We see it as playing a key role in helping position us as a leading employer of women who often fill the carer s role. Lin Homer HMRC Chief Executive Health on your Mind We provide Health on your Mind in partnership with the Department of Health and mental health charities. Our online toolkits have lots of information and guidance about how you can start to improve your emotional wellbeing and about how managers can help their staff. This has meant the world to me and more than anything it has given me a new hope that no matter how tough things are and how much you feel like you are on your own, there are people out there who care and are willing to help.

6 Volunteers Our volunteers play a key role in all areas of our work. By sharing their experience and time they help us make a real difference. Our Fundraising and Awareness Volunteers act as a point of contact within workplaces, putting up posters, talking to colleagues about our work and supporting us with fundraising activities. Those who can t make a regular commitment join our team of Occasional Volunteers who support us at local events and help during specific fundraising campaigns. It was really helpful to have someone from outside listen to me, someone who wasn t a doctor but could chat through the welfare side of things. Allan Liddell

7 Visiting Volunteers Visiting Volunteers visit people at home or work, to assist with applications for help and to offer a listening ear. They provide information and signpost to sources of advice in the areas of benefits, social care, housing and debt. They receive comprehensive training and support. 1,500 visits In 2011 our Visiting Volunteers helped with over 1,500 visits to give face-to-face support and advice. My volunteering experiences have not only given me satisfaction, but have also enhanced my personal and professional skills. I ve gained respect from my colleagues who admire the work I do and acknowledge how my services are of benefit to themselves and others. When I got the letter saying that the Charity was able to assist the lady I d visited, it made me feel like I d achieved something and that I d really helped someone who needed it. You don t get many opportunities to do something like that. Sue Murrell

8 What difference do we make? We help people get back to work There are many reasons why people may need time off work, none of them easy to predict but with our help, many are able to return more quickly. In 2011 more than one in ten of those we helped told us we assisted them in staying in, or getting back to, work. What a relief! I didn t feel I had to go back to work too early which gave me the space to concentrate on getting well. Kathleen Nicholls We can help improve your quality of life When times are hard, a helping hand can make all the difference. We can help pay for things to make your life better for example, a wheelchair, a cooker or household repairs. 607,048 of assistance In 2011, we gave nearly 1,000 people help totalling 607,048 for essential household equipment to improve living conditions. Thank you very much for coming through for me, offering me support and a helping hand when I was so low and in desperate need. My carpet and washing machine are now fitted and have made such a difference to my wellbeing and emotional stability.

9 Boosting independence We can help you afford equipment to increase your independence. Mobility aids In 2011 we helped over 100 people with mobility issues buying electric scooters, wheelchairs, stair lifts and reclining chairs and adapting cars. These people didn t qualify for statutory help and couldn t afford to purchase these products on their own. Kathleen has age-related macular degeneration, which means her sight has deteriorated to such a point that she only has peripheral vision. The Charity was able to help buy a software program that could read the computer for her. I can safely say it has given me my whole life back... when I m on the computer, I forget about everything. I now focus on what I can do, rather than what I can t. Kathleen Tovey

10 Helping to manage debt As well as putting people in touch with specialist debt advisors, we can provide a breathing space to sort out finances longer-term by settling some of the most pressing bills. 1,750 people Last year we helped 1,750 people coping with debt, with advice and financial support of over 800,000. I m not sure if you realise how much your help will change my life for the better, but rest assured it will. I ve not felt so stable in years. Helping families start new lives together After one of life s disasters, we re here to help pick up the pieces. Sometimes a short-term injection of cash can help keep a family together or help someone start again on their own. 229 re-housed In 2011 we put a roof over the heads of 229 people with support totalling 269,821 towards accommodation costs. Thank you so much for helping me out with the rental deposit and first month s rent. I m happily settled in with my wee son. You ll never know what a difference this has made to my life.

11 Moving on from redundancy Losing your job can sometimes lead to depression or falling into debt. We ve supported thousands of civil servants facing change with reassurance, advice, short-term bill payment and referral information. I was made redundant shortly after my wife left me. I was struggling to pay rent arrears and utility bills and was at a really low ebb. It was such a relief to get help. Since then I ve cleared my debts and put that all behind me. Martin Cook

12 Coping with bereavement Losing someone you love is devastating enough and when they die the last thing you want is the worry of how you ll pay for the funeral. We can help with funeral costs, or buying a headstone. We supported nearly 400 people in this way in When my son Daniel died the Charity paid for the funeral costs. It was the first positive thing to happen in the most horrendous month of my life. Taking that worry and stress away from me was just invaluable. Julie Harding

13 Dealing with an emergency We are there in moments of crisis, when action and money is needed immediately. We can respond quickly and get help to you fast. 250 emergencies In 2011 we helped 250 people with immediate needs following an emergency, such as fire or flood. Steven and Zubaeda Walker lived in a flat above the carpet shop in Tottenham that was set on fire during the riots in August We felt despair. Our home was a furnace, with all the floors ablaze. The burning building was the last thing we saw as we closed our eyes and the first when we opened them. The money gave us one less thing to worry about, words cannot express how grateful we are. Steven Walker Photographer: Alan Stanton Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution- Share alike 2.0 Generic license

14 How are we funded? Our money comes from civil servants, for civil servants. People give, both time and money, because they want to be a part of the Civil Service community and lend a helping hand to others going through difficult times. When cancer hit our family we fell into terrifying poverty. You gave us the help and support we needed to get back on our feet successfully. I have now become a donor. It is costing me less than the price of a decent coffee per week. But it will mean much more to someone in need of a helping hand. By doing it through payroll giving I won t really miss it and there is the benefit of the tax relief. I feel good! Giving money You can give regularly through the payroll, by one-off donations, via text or our website, by sponsorship, or by leaving us money in your will. See for more information. 7,250,000 in donations In 2011, we received 7,250,000 in donations, through Payroll Giving, legacies, sponsorship and fundraising. I feel great that now I can give something back and know that because of my contribution, other people will get help when they really need it.

15 Keep up the good work. I truly think you guys are amazing and the generosity of the donors is nothing short of a miracle for me. The Civil Service Benevolent Fund. Company limited by guarantee registered no: A Charity registered in England and Wales no: and in Scotland SC

16 Where can I find help? Help and advice line Open from Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm. us help@foryoubyyou.org.uk Visit our website Here you will find a wealth of information and resources. General enquiries The Charity for Civil Servants, 5 Anne Boleyn s Walk, Cheam, Surrey, SM3 8DY Call: info@foryoubyyou.org.uk Follow us Teams across the country We also have 12 regional officers who co-ordinate some 25 to 30 volunteer visitors each. They are able to visit you at home or at work.