2 minute read
Supporting those in distress
THE British Benevolent Fund was founded over a century ago to provide assistance to Britons in Spain facing extreme financial hardship.
Financial difficulties is something most people face in their lives and whilst challenging can be overcome with thought and planning. Both of these are almost impossible when the person has mental illness where making the right decision is difficult and where holding down a job is even more so.
In the case of John, a 34yearold single British man who lived in Spain, having moved with his parents from the UK when they retired. His condition was such that social interaction caused distress and he lived in his room and his parents looked after him he had never worked and relied on his parents for food, lodging and all life’s necessities.
Except that they could not cope they lived modestly off a small pension and had little to spare for their grown forever at home child who required constant attention and medication. Then came Brexit and the realisation that the social service support, medical cover and local help was at risk as they had never registered as residents and were no longer eligible.
They got in touch with a local charity for support to apply belatedly which would take some time to process however they were confident that having been settled here before the deadline date they were still in with a chance.
But in the meantime, the medicine costs were now high and beyond their small means.
The charity one of many at the Support in Spain website contacted the BBF to see if we could help.
The BBF mission is to support those in distress and with a child with needs we wanted to help. The issue for the BBF is that wherever possible we seek that any funds are used to overcome a particular challenge not ongoing support. In this this case all revolved around their chances of being approved which if they were not would mean an unsustainable situation in Spain. We agreed to provide a grant to cover the following six months of medicine costs which would be reviewed depending on the outcome of their application.
Thankfully within three they were given the green light and their application was approved meaning that all state support would be available as well as that they would be able to continue living in Spain.
The BBF can only help with your help. If you would like to support our mission for Britons in distress in Spain, please visit www.britishbenevolentfund.org
Thank you. Olaf Clayton, Chair
Firstly, firefighters do a difficult and dangerous job nobody doubts this. Nobody says otherwise. Firefighters demonstrate bravery, courage, self sacrifice etc. They can be, and frequently are, saints, but that is not a job requirement. The willingness to run towards a fire when everyone else is running away, and to keep returning until everyone inside has been rescued and the fire extinguished, as well as a technical insight into controlling fires from different sources, are the primary characteristics. We are fortunate that such men and women exist and put their lives on the line for us. They may not always behave as squeakyclean choristers, but they get the job done.
First it’s the Met, now it’s the fire and rescue services throughout Britain. Where will other revelations of racism, misogyny and bullying in sordid corners of British society be exposed next? The NHS? The Coastguard? The Monarchy?
Good grief, are the justices of selfrighteousness making it their mission to denounce every last British public service as ‘hotbeds’ of bad behaviour? How profoundly demotivating for the many fine staff members in all our emergency services.
How I love being told who to dislike every week! Who do I get to hate next week?
Nora Johnson’s 12 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers (www.norajohnson.net) all available online including eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.
