in touch CIMA BENEVOLENT FUND NEWSLETTER
Some people we’ve helped Anna As Anna was the main breadwinner, when she was made redundant, this created immediate difficulties for her and her family. After six months without finding new work, Anna used what was left of her redundancy pay to open her own small retail business. A month after the shop launch she was diagnosed with cancer. Anna reluctantly decided to wind up her business. Her husband has had to reduce his working hours to care for their two young children while Anna undergoes treatment, resulting in a further loss of household income. The Fund is helping Anna and her family with a regular grant until she is well enough to resume work. She wrote ‘your cheque has helped me sleep better at night’.
SEPTEMBER 2011 ISSUE 7
James When James was forced to retire early on health grounds he found he had to battle for several years to obtain a pension from his former employer. During this period, the Fund supported him and his wife with a regular grant. Happily, his employer has now agreed that he is entitled to a pension and James no longer needs the Fund’s help. He wrote recently ‘very many thanks – we cannot begin to tell you how much we have appreciated the Benevolent Fund’s support, both financial and moral’.
Rose Rose, the elderly widow of a member, found herself the sole carer late on in her life for her young grand-daughter, Grace, whose own mother (Rose’s daughter) died of cancer. The Fund helped Rose with a quarterly grant to supplement her income. Grace is now in her first term at university and we will also pay her a termly grant while she is a student. Rose wrote recently ‘thank you for your continuing support. I don’t know what I’d do without you.’
Penny Penny suffered a severe stroke in her mid-forties, which left her unable to walk or use her left arm. The Benevolent Fund combined with various army charities (because her husband is in the army) to pay for converting their garage into a groundlevel bedroom and shower room suited to her needs. Penny wrote to thank the Fund, saying ’the option of having a proper wash and a shower every day is for me like winning the lottery. So thank you very much for making this possible!’
Eileen
ily A n n a a n d h e r fa m
17%
When her husband, a CIMA member, retired, Eileen moved 40% with him to live in Spain. She decided to remain there after 17% he died. Sadly, Eileen now has dementia and has had to move into residential care. The Benevolent Fund is helping to meet the cost of her care home fees until her flat in26% Spain is sold. Her daughter wrote that the Fund’s grant ‘is much appreciated and will help to eke out Mum’s savings a little longer in the hope the flat will sell within the next few months.’
CIMA Benevolent Fund – helping members and their families in times of need – registered charity no. 261114