Benevolent Funding
The Benevolent Fund provides financial assistance to League members or nurses who trained at Barts. You can be working or retired. Once you have got in touch with us we will be able to advise either on how to proceed with an application or on what other options might be available to you.
A short history of the Benevolent Fund
From the very beginning, one of the key functions of the League was to provide help for members. At the AGM in 1900 Isla Stewart, Matron said “we now come to what I think I may call the most important part of our agenda, namely consideration of the Benevolent Fund scheme so as to ensure our members assistance in times of temporary difficulties or more permanent help in old age”.
Miss Stewart envisaged raising funds for such a scheme from the managers and governors of Barts rather than from the general public. After discussions at the 1901 and 1902 AGMs, a scheme was agreed to provide gifts to relieve temporary distress and interest-free loans.
Today, through donations, legacies and careful investment, the Benevolent Fund has a market value of £1.5m and awards between £50,000 – £100,000 per annum to provide help such as mobility aids, wheelchairs, electric scooters, bathroom adaptations, stairlifts, physio and speech therapy services and convalescence support, to those working or retired. Emergency grants have more recently been established to help with, for example, unemployment, rent deposit, surgery, legal fees and household goods.
What the fund covers
The Benevolent Fund welcomes applications for assistance with, but not limited to:
- needs arising from reasons of age, disability or ill health including mobility/disability aids, home adaptations, essential repairs, and essential white goods
- services such as travel to appointments
- short-term convalescence and respite care costs
- short-term financial emergencies
Unfortunately, The Charity Trustees will not normally support applications to support long-term costs such as those for residential or nursing care. However, the Benevolent Fund will occasionally award grants that fall outside the priorities stated in the Benevolent Fund Grant Making Policy, provided that they are satisfied that the grant will further the Objects and is an appropriate use of charity funds.
How to apply for funding
The Benevolent Fund provides financial assistance to League members, or nurses who trained at Barts before September 1993, as well as nurses who have worked at Barts hospital for a year. There is no requirement to be a member. You can be working or retired and can contact the Benevolent Fund via email or post.
For more information please contact the Benevolent Fund Secretary in strictest confidence.
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