bensoc.org.uk
Caring for the trade for 150 years Personal approach remains at the heart of The Ben
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T helps hundreds of people each year across Scotland’s licensed trade who have fallen on hard times. As The Benevolent Society of the Licensed Trade of Scotland – ‘The Ben’ – celebrates its 150th anniversary, it’s determined to help a whole lot more. The Ben has, in various guises, been caring for the trade since 1864, with the organisation in its current format established in 1976 following the amalgamation of the Scottish Wine and Spirit Merchants’ Benevolent Institution, which was set up in 1864, and the East of Scotland Licensed Trade Benevolent Institution, founded in 1887. The names may have changed down the years, but the founding principle – to help and support former and current members of the licensed trade and drinks industry who have fallen on hard times – remains at the heart of the organisation today. The Ben raises funds to support more than 130 beneficiaries each year – either through annual financial assistance or oneoff grants – from all corners of Scotland’s licensed trade and drinks industry. Recent beneficiaries include a distillery worker struck down with a debilitating illness, a woman who was made redundant and unable to meet her mortgage payments and a family with a child who needed an electric wheelchair – highlighting the broad range of assistance the charity offers. Every case is assessed confidentially and individually on its own merits, with the only prerequisite being that applicants have worked full-time in the trade for a minimum of three years (this does not have to be continuous service).
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It’s this personal approach that sets The Ben apart. The charity has a team of seven visitors who, together with The Ben’s 12 directors from across the licensed trade and drinks industry, visit beneficiaries and the residents of the 18 houses in The Ben’s Pitlochry estate, regularly. Chris Gardner, chief executive of The Ben, said the organisation endeavours to provide help and assistance as quickly as possible to those in need. “We’re there as a first port of call for people,” she said. “Things can happen to anyone when they least expect it and that’s why The Ben is there to help. They may lose their job or fall and break a leg and be unable to work
for a period of time – The Ben can provide assistance in all these cases. “Everyone is treated as an individual. After they apply, a visitor will go and see them and assess how The Ben can help. “The Ben is unique in having these visitors. Sometimes it’s not all about money; sometimes having someone to speak to is just as important as financial support and our visitors do a fantastic job. “That is the real strength of The Ben – the personal approach and its ability to react quickly to every situation.” • Read on to find out more about what The Ben does, how you can help The Ben and how The Ben can help you.
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The Ben by numbers ◗ £400,000 a year to run the charity ◗ 132 beneficiaries in 2014 ◗ 12 directors ◗ 7 visitors ◗ 18 houses in Pitlochry estate
The trade reac out to the trad
◗ 3 years’ minimum fulltime work in trade to qualify for help
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◗ £30 one-off payment for individual membership
ROVIDING transport to and from medical appointments for a cancer patient, helping out a member of bar staff when their house was flooded, providing financial assistance to a bottling hall worker whose child required specialist medical equipment – the situations in which The Ben has stepped in to support those in need are many and varied. But nothing could have prepared the licensed trade charity for how to respond in the aftermath of the tragedy at Glasgow’s Clutha bar in November 2013. A helicopter crashed into the roof of the pub, claiming the lives of ten people and injuring scores of other customers and staff members. In the immediate aftermath, The Ben swung in to action. The charity helped pay the wages of Clutha staff following the tragedy and continued supporting those with longer-term injuries while helping other
◗ £300 one-off payment for corporate membership ◗ FREE lifetime membership for individuals during 2014 October 29,
1863
Proposal raised for the formation of a charitable and benevolent organisation at a meeting of Glasgow Wines Spirits and Beer Trade Association with £150 transferred to the fund Ben4pp .indd 3
First benevolent committee formed
January 8,
1864
May 11,
1870
Scottish Wines & Spirits Benevolent Institution incorporated
members of staff secure jobs in nearby pubs. Alan Crossan, owner of the Clutha, said the help and support provided by The Ben has been “incredible”. “The Ben has been there right from the start and they continue to be very supportive,” he said. “With something like this you might expect a groundswell of support at the beginning and then people start to think about other things. “But The Ben has given continuous support and is still helping now.” Chris Gardner, chief executive of The Ben, said the charity was able to react quickly to the situation at the Clutha. “We discussed how we could help and decided the best way was to help the owners and staff who obviously wouldn’t be able to work,” she said. “We helped them financially and we contacted pub companies and trade groups to try and help staff from the
The cost of life membership increased from five guineas to ten
1882
The annual c the water’ on comm
1890s
Donors list includes Aitken, Guinness, Ind Coope, Tennent’s, McEwan’s, Ballantyne, Matthew Clarke, Walker, Haig, Bowmore, Maclachlan and Worthingtons 28/08/2014 10:50
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Who The Ben helps
Ben events
The Ben organises an annual programme of events to raise much-needed funds:
A 26 year old...
February – The Ben Dinner March - Go-karting at Cambuslang April – Golf at Turnberry May – Pro-Am Golf at Cardross May – Cocktails & Cupcakes at Oran Mor August – Pro-Am Golf at Archerfield October – Race Meeting at Ayr November – The Ben Barrel Ball
… applied to The Ben following an accident on his way to a job interview. He was involved in a head-on collision with a white van and the air bag caused damage to his groin and bladder as well as severe burns to his right leg; two years later he is still unable to work full-time.
bensoc.org.uk
A 43 year old...
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… received help from The Ben when she was declared bankrupt. Her house was tied to the business so she went to stay in a homeless unit with her children. The Ben stepped in to help with removal costs and continues to support her and her children.
Clutha find other jobs once they were able to go back to work. “We’re still helping two members of staff who are unable to work because of the injuries they sustained. And The Ben will continue to help for as long as is needed.” The tragedy at the Clutha is one example of the broad range of ways in which The Ben can help those across Scotland’s licensed trade and drinks industry. Whether it’s a one-off grant to help in an emergency or longer term support, such as an annual amount or housing in one of the 18 recently-revamped bungalows on the Pitlochry estate, there are a range of ways in which the charity can support those who have fallen on hard times. And you can help The Ben to help those in the trade who need it. As well as becoming a member (individual membership costs £30 The annual cruise ‘doon the water’ on the Clyde commenced
1895
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June 2,
1955
Annual excursion on Queen Mary II with 750 tickets sold
while corporate membership is £300; lifetime membership for individuals is free during 2014 to mark The Ben’s 150th anniversary), you can support The Ben by making a donation, attending the events, organising fundraising events for The Ben in your outlet, and displaying the poster on the back of this supplement to raise awareness of The Ben. You can also help The Ben by alerting the organisation to those who may need its support. “We want to increase the number of beneficiaries this year,” added Chris Gardner. “If you know someone The Ben could help, please get in touch with us. Every case is considered on its own merits and it’s totally confidential. “That’s what it’s all about – everyone works together. The trade is like one big family and we’re here to help in whatever way we can.”
Constitution amended at EGM to offer temporary assistance to immediate relatives
1960
February 11,
1960
455 people attended the annual dinner
A 39 year old... … contacted The Ben at the end of November 2012 asking if it handed out food parcels. He was working in a hotel in the north of Scotland but said he didn’t work enough hours to pay his bills and eat. He explained that his house was on the market; his mum, who was a pensioner, was helping him out but that after he had paid his bills he had nothing left for food. In a letter of thanks to The Ben he explained that he had been at the end of his tether but, thanks to The Ben, he now can make ends meet.
The Ben in its current format is established via amalgamations of regional benevolent societies
1976
February
2014
970 people attended the annual dinner
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Do you or anyone you know need financial help or support from The Ben? The Benevolent Society can help people of all ages in Scotland’s licensed trade, in a variety of different ways from one-off grants to longer term support.
Call or email in confidence All cases are assesed on their own merits.
chris@bensoc.org.uk • 0141 353 3596 benevolentsocietyscotland
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@bensociety
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