Benevolent Fund Locally

As a Section, we have not been very active recently in supporting the efforts of the Benevolent Fund.  

This has not been because the committee do not think it important, rather because of a lack of the human resources.  

Following the recent National re-launch of the Benevolent Fund, we have decided to make this an area of high priority for the coming year.  Martin Jones has, over the past few years, established great contacts with our senior/retired members and has agreed to act as Benevolent Fund Representative.

What are the tasks ahead of us?

1. To establish a network of contacts within the section so that when need arises we quickly become aware of that need and are able to respond appropriately to any help requested. 
2. To convince our membership that the Benevolent Fund is not just about financial support but also is there to provide more mundane support in terms of help and guidance.
3. To recruit a number of Volunteer Visitors to be the personal/human contact between the RSC centrally and the member locally.

Volunteer Visitors

The role is to establish and maintain contact with the members within their small "patch", hopefully no more than 10, so that if a need arises, eg bereavement, it will not be a stranger that makes contact on behalf of the RSC.  This contact could be by sending a letter, a Christmas card or a telephone call, a personal invitation to a meeting etc.

We will not be able to achieve these tasks without extra personnel.  We need to recruit Volunteer Visitors.  This is not an arduous duty and the time commitment is only what you are able to give.  If even 1 member "signed up" and was only able to maintain 1 contact in a year then that would a huge step forward.  

The good news is that two members have already expressed an interest in becoming Volunteer Visitors so we are only looking for another 20 or so.  If you would like to know more about what being a Volunteer Visitor entails then contact Martin Jones.