in touchSEPTEMBER 2011 ISSUE 7

CIMA Benevolent Fund – helping members and their families in times of need – registered charity no. 261114

CIMA BENEVOLENT FUND NEWSLETTER

Some people we’ve helpedAnnaAs 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’.

40%

26%

17%

17%

JamesWhen 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’.

RoseRose, 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.’

PennyPenny 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 ground-level 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!’

EileenWhen her husband, a CIMA member, retired, Eileen moved with him to live in Spain. She decided to remain there after 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 in 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.’

Anna a nd her family

CIMA Benevolent Fund – helping members and their families in times of need – registered charity no. 261114

As the chart shows, almost half Fund beneficiaries this year have come to the Fund because serious illness is preventing them from working for a prolonged period, often permanently. Others have lost their job and are looking for support until they find new work.

(Happily they usually do so before too long.) Some find their

financial situation jeopardised by family issues, which may

mean they are unable to work because of caring responsibilities

or are faced with heavy bills associated with medical needs or

disabilities. Some are simply struggling on a less than adequate

retirement income.

In the current environment, the Fund has experienced increased

calls for help from members facing difficulties. At the same time,

the Fund’s income from its investments has fallen substantially.

All this means that the Fund ran up a deficit in 2009 and 2010,

will do so again this year and is forecast to be in deficit again next

year.

We urgently need to increase the level of donations to the

Fund. Please help us.

There are a number of ways you can make a donation.Donations can be made online. Simply go to

www.cimaglobal.com, log on to My CIMA using your personal

password, click onto ‘Donate to Benevolent Fund’ and follow the

online instructions.

Cheques, made payable to ‘CIMA Benevolent Fund’, should be sent

to the Benevolent Fund Secretary at CIMA, 26 Chapter Street,

London SW1P 4NP.

If you would like to make regular donations by direct debit, please

contact the Benevolent Fund Secretary, Caroline Aldred at CIMA’s

Chapter Street address or on benevolent.fund@cimaglobal.com

or on 0208 849 2221

If you are writing or changing your will, please consider making a

bequest to the Benevolent Fund.

If you need, or someone you know needs help:Caroline Aldred is always happy to discuss a possible application

informally (+44 (0)208 849 2221 or

benevolent.fund@cimaglobal.com).

Alternatively, you can download a Benevolent Fund application

form directly from our website at www.cimaglobal.com/

members/fees-benefits-and-career-support/services-and-

support/cima-benevolent-fund/.

Decisions on individual requests for help are taken by the

Benevolent Fund Committee and, in between Committee

meetings, at the discretion of the Committee Chairman.

Problems faced by beneficiaries illness

employment problems

family problems

low retirement income

I recognise my good

fortune in having a

qualification and being

employed and that I should

not take it for granted.

Donor to the fund

23%

45%

16%

16%