The Fund can announce that 2009 was its busiest ever year in terms of help provision.
Nearly £5 million in financial assistance was provided to current, former, and retired civil servants, and their dependants during the year. It marks an increase of more than £200,000 over the amount provided in 2008, which itself had been a record-breaking year for the Fund.
Stefan’s case typifies the way in which the Fund went the extra mile for its beneficiaries. A severely autistic young boy, his parents were told that a visit to a dolphin therapy centre in Florida would be enormously beneficial to his long-term future.
The Fund was there with a grant to help towards the cost of the trip, and the experience has made a massive difference towards his quality of life.
View a video of his experience:
His parents write, “We have learned a lot about Stefan’s conditions by hearing another perspective and we understand a lot more of his problems and how to help him.
“Once again we want to thank everyone who has helped us from the bottom of our hearts.”
Christine’s world was shattered by the sudden and unexpected passing of her partner, Mark.
A current civil servant, she was left facing mounting debts owing to funeral expenses, and the need to get by on one income. All of this on top of her need to grieve for him.
The Fund provided a grant which ensured that money problems were the least of her concerns. It even stretched far enough to allow Christine to buy a memorial headstone.
She says, “The Fund's help allowed a huge weight to be lifted and also shed a little light into what is a very dark time. It’s reassuring to know people care.”
The figures confirm the Fund’s position as the in-house charity for the civil service. The help is provided by a network of regional staff and volunteers working in tandem with colleagues located at Fund House in Cheam.
Among the milestones reached during 2009:
The final three months of 2009 were the busiest in the Fund’s history, both in terms of cases helped, and money given
72% of the help given went to current staff – the highest percentage recorded for many years
The amount awarded to staff in the North West increased by almost £100,000
More than £1.2 million of help was given to current and former DWP staff
Besides the many people helped through financial assistance, thousands more took advantage of the Fund’s advisory services, either through our Freephone service, online through the Fund website, or in person at a growing number of workplace clinics.
Overseeing what is effectively a multi-million pound business is the Fund’s Director of Help and Advisory Services, Judith Smith.
She says, “The Fund is at the very heart of the civil service’s wellbeing agenda. Our services continually evolve to ensure they’re relevant to people needing our support.
“And by easing the worries and concerns of those who come to us for help and advice, we play a vital role in preventing staff being forced to take sick leave.
“It’s a win-win situation for both the people, and departments, we support.
“Finally, I would like to pay tribute to all the staff, volunteers, and especially donors, without whom, no-one would have received the assistance they needed.
“Once again, they got things done; quickly, efficiently, and in complete confidence.”
