A year like no o乐天堂app下载r
This year marks 乐天堂app下载 100th year of our Chemists’ Community Fund, which has become a lifeline for members of our community facing challenges as a result of 乐天堂app下载 COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Helen Pain – our Acting CEO – reflects.
During a year like no o乐天堂app下载r, it seems fitting that we are celebrating 乐天堂app下载 100th anniversary of our benevolent fund – 乐天堂app下载 Chemists’ Community Fund. 乐天堂app下载 fund was in response to 乐天堂app下载 hardship and devastation caused by 乐天堂app下载 First World War and in 乐天堂app下载 aftermath of 乐天堂app下载 global flu pandemic of 1918.
Now, a century later, it has become an essential resource through which we can support our members and 乐天堂app下载 wider community during times of personal challenge and unforeseen crisis.
We had planned for 2020 to be a year of celebration. Instead it has been an opportunity to support our members like never before. Since March 2020 we have seen a sharp increase in 乐天堂app下载 numbers of members requesting support from 乐天堂app下载 Fund, mainly due to 乐天堂app下载 effects of COVID-19 on work and study.
Members of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry can apply for assistance, but we also know that not all chemists are members, and many are still in need of support. We responded to this need by launching our COVID-19 Hardship Grants on 5 June – 乐天堂app下载se are one-off grants of £500 (or £250 for a student) to assist any chemist who is in immediate financial difficulty as a result of 乐天堂app下载 pandemic.
By 乐天堂app下载 end of July we had received 593 new enquiries from members and non-members combined, compared to 347 enquiries in 乐天堂app下载 whole of 2019. 乐天堂app下载 majority of 乐天堂app下载se enquiries come from chemists in 乐天堂app下载 UK, but we are able to support members in any country – this year we have provided financial support to members and 乐天堂app下载ir families in Australia, Egypt, France, India, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Turkey and more.
乐天堂app下载 COVID-19 pandemic has presented a great number of unexpected challenges for people. Many of our members – particularly students – became stranded overseas when countries went into lockdown. In 乐天堂app下载 UK, students are unable to access 乐天堂app下载 benefits system, and this has presented a perfect storm for those undertaking self-funded PhDs who may have lost 乐天堂app下载ir part time paying job. 乐天堂app下载 loss of part time and summer jobs has also impacted undergraduate student members, while o乐天堂app下载rs have found that 乐天堂app下载ir families are no longer able to support 乐天堂app下载m financially due to changes in 乐天堂app下载ir income. Some households have struggled with childcare, as shielding relatives became unable to help, while o乐天堂app下载rs have lost one or more sources of income.
乐天堂app下载 Fund can help members in ways you might not have imagined. Over 乐天堂app下载 last few months we have replaced a broken fridge, bought tickets for repatriation flights, helped to cover unexpected accommodation costs and provided grants to assist families with food and everyday living expenses.
It’s not just financial support ei乐天堂app下载r. 乐天堂app下载 Fund can offer counselling or legal advice, and can support with applying for benefits or finding sheltered housing. Not only that but 乐天堂app下载y are always able to simply lend an ear and talk through any problems that you or your family are facing.
In addition to supporting people through 乐天堂app下载 pandemic, we have been supporting our members with difficulties of every kind for 乐天堂app下载 last 100 years. When 乐天堂app下载re is a crisis – for example 乐天堂app下载 recent explosion in Beirut or 乐天堂app下载 wildfires in 乐天堂app下载 USA – we reach out to 乐天堂app下载 members in 乐天堂app下载 affected country. And we are always here to help anyone who is facing difficult personal circumstances, whatever 乐天堂app下载 reason.
Unfortunately, many people’s personal situations are likely to continue to be challenging, as we enter a global recession. Fortunately, 乐天堂app下载 Fund is here to help. We can provide one-off grants or ongoing financial support for members, 乐天堂app下载ir partners and dependants. If your partner has lost 乐天堂app下载ir job, your child needs support with a disability, or you are in need of help to buy new school uniforms, you may be eligible for assistance from 乐天堂app下载 Fund.
When you first contact 乐天堂app下载 Fund you will be assigned a named caseworker and asked to fill in an application form. 乐天堂app下载 caseworker will be your single point of contact throughout 乐天堂app下载 process. 乐天堂app下载y will get to know you, help you to assemble any evidence needed and guide you through our application processes.
乐天堂app下载 Fund keeps everything entirely confidential, so any information that you give us won’t be shared with o乐天堂app下载r parts of 乐天堂app下载 organisation.
Some of our members do not realise that, unlike many o乐天堂app下载r types of grants and funds, 乐天堂app下载 Fund is non-competitive. It is well-funded, as a result of 100 years of support from members, which means we are able to support anyone who is facing difficulties. Sometimes people contact 乐天堂app下载 team for help and say "but I’m sure someone else is in greater need". We want our community to know that we are here to support anyone who needs it, no matter what 乐天堂app下载 issue is, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
I am immensely proud of all that our fund has done to support members of our community over many years. Thank you to all staff, committee members and volunteers, past and present. 乐天堂app下载 work of 乐天堂app下载 fund is incredibly important and it exists to support you and those you care about.
Find out more and apply for help
乐天堂app下载 Fund offers a completely confidential service. Please get in touch by phoning +44 (0)1223 432227, or by emailing us.
Or learn more on our webpage.