in touch CIMA BENEVOLENT FUND NEWSLETTER
APRIL 2012 ISSUE 8
About us
David
The CIMA Benevolent Fund helps CIMA members and their dependants who are going through hard times. Difficulties may arise for a variety of reasons: long-term illness, disability, loss of employment, caring responsibilities, marital breakdown, bereavement or quite simply a less than adequate retirement income may all result in serious hardship. Whatever the cause of the distress, the CIMA Benevolent Fund is able to support members through difficult periods.
David was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 44. His condition deteriorated over the next few years, leaving him unable to work. Aside from a regular grant to David, the Fund is now helping his two sons, who are both university students, through their studies and recently contributed towards buying an electric muscle stimulator which helps David’s mobility. He comments ‘it’s fantastic to be able to walk kind of normally.’
The CIMA Benevolent Fund has always relied on the generosity of more fortunate CIMA members for the financial resources it needs to support members in need.
Emma
How the Benevolent Fund helps – some examples
When member John in Zambia died suddenly at a young age, his widow Emma was left struggling to support their six young children and to meet mortgage payments on their home and pay school fees. The Fund offered her help with this year’s school fees.
Nigel Nigel’s mental health condition remained undiagnosed until he was in his late forties. Up to that time, he had managed to hold down a job as a qualified CIMA accountant. Then, in a short period of time, he was declared bankrupt, suffered a breakdown and then had to cope with the death of his mother, with whom he had lived all his life. Their home, which his mother had owned and Nigel inherited, had to be sold to discharge his debts. It was at this stage that Nigel came to the CIMA Benevolent Fund, which offered him help with the deposit and advance rental he needed to pay to find a new place to live.
Support your fellow professionals in need like Nigel, Sue and David by making a donation to the Benevolent Fund.
Sue
You can send a cheque, made payable to ‘CIMA Benevolent Fund’, to the Benevolent Fund Secretary at CIMA, 26 Chapter Street, London SW1P 4NP.
After Sue had to stop work to undergo intensive treatment for cancer, the Fund started to help her financially with a regular grant. A year later Sue had clinical depression also and tests showed that, as the cancer had returned, she needed further chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It was at this stage that Sue wrote to us with ‘thanks for your support. It takes a lot of stress away at this worrying time.’
It was like a great lifting off my shoulders to know that help is there for me.
You can do this online by visiting www.cimaglobal. com, and logging on to ‘My CIMA’ using your personal password, clicking onto ‘My financials’ and then ‘Donate to Benevolent Fund’ and following the online instructions.
You can make a regular annual donation by direct debit; please contact the Benevolent Fund Secretary, Caroline Aldred, at CIMA’s Chapter Street address, or at 17% benevolent.fund@cimaglobal.com or on +44 (0)20 8849 2221 40% 17% 26%
CIMA Benevolent Fund – helping members and their families in times of need – registered charity no. 261114
If you, or someone you know, needs help: Caroline Aldred is always happy to discuss a possible application informally (+44 (0)20 8849 2221 or benevolent.fund@cimaglobal.com).
23% 45% 17%
Alternatively, you can download a Benevolent Fund application form directly from our website at www.cimaglobal.com/ members/fees-benefits-and-career-support/services-andsupport/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.
15% I am very proud to be a member of a professional body that takes such kind care of its less fortunate colleagues.
Problems faced by beneficiaries illness employment problems family problems low retirement income As the chart shows, almost half Fund beneficiaries 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 have heavy 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. We urgently need to increase the level of donations to the Fund. Please help us.
Bills have increased and I am short. Then on the mat arrives the CIMA cheque to help yet again. It makes such a difference.
‘ The support I get from the CIMA Benevolent Fund really is a godsend.
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
CIMA Benevolent Fund – helping members and their families in times of need – registered charity no. 261114