Benevolent Fund and Support Group
The Club administers a Benevolent Fund which provides immediate assistance to anybody who has been associated with the Antarctic or their dependants in time of emergency. It is the speed of the help that the Committee feels is important (i.e. within a day or two of the disaster) when emotional problems are bad enough without the addition of financial worries.
The Club continues to have a healthy sum of money in the Benevolent Fund. The Committee is very anxious that the money should be used for the purpose for which the fund was set up, but unless we are aware of these circumstances we are powerless to help. The fund is not only for giving substantial financial help in cases of difficulties, but is also available in the form of a loan for emergencies. We believe that there must have been occasions in the past when persons or families would have welcomed some help, but did not receive anything, as their circumstances were unknown to anyone. The Committee is totally dependent on all people who have or are still working in Antarctica advising them of worthy beneficiaries.
The Secretary is able on behalf of the Club to act immediately and this could be most helpful when unexpected disasters or tragedies overtake a person or family. Any information passed to the BAS Club Secretary will be treated with complete confidence and the Committee will undertake to assess what help can be offered.
For further information, please contact:
Tony Wincott
BAS Club Secretary
20 Lancers Way
Weedon
Northants
NN7 4PH
UK
Tel: +44 (0)7702 055601
Email: tony@wincott.fsworld.co.uk
Support Group
The Support Group has been created to provide members with contact and assistance that is not purely financial. To find out more, please contact Commmittee member Petra Searle on (01603) 712281.