The NEC Finance Sub Committee deals with numerous claims on behalf of members throughout the Union on a monthly basis.  The Benevolent Fund of the Union is one of those funds that it is important to be a member of but at the same time one which you hope never to have to benefit from.  Notwithstanding that point, the unfortunate facts of life are that many of our members depend on donations from that fund to assist them in their hour of need and it is one of the Union Funds that I am most proud of.  In order to ensure that the fund continues to play an important role the National Executive Council request that Postal Branches who have surplus funds in their accounts should look to use those funds to assist their members in the first instance or in conjunction with the NEC Benevolent Fund.

Therefore you will understand that Ms Monica Hempenstall, Financial Officer, may well contact Branch Treasurers or Branch Secretaries in the event of claims to ascertain whether or not the Branch concerned has excess funds and whether or not they have attempted to use any of those funds to help their member in distress.  Obviously in circumstances where Branches do not have such funds the Benevolent Fund will continue to operate as heretofore. 

It is not the National Executive Council’s intention that this circular will, in any way, deprive members of the necessary assistance or indeed delay that assistance but rather to ensure the best use of the Union’s resources.