IOSH Benevolent Fund
Financial support through difficult times.
If you are an existing or former IOSH member, we may be able to help with financial support in certain situations.
Who is eligible?
The fund is open to current and former members of IOSH, with a minimum of one year of continuous membership, their family, and dependents. Former employees of IOSH are also eligible for help.
The amount of help offered is decided by the fund’s Trustees at their absolute discretion. The trustees normally make one-off grants for specific items that can’t be funded from another source. In certain circumstances trustees may consider support for a specified period.
What can funding be used for?
Examples of items that may be considered for full or partial funding (not an exhaustive list):
- aids for temporary or permanent disability, for example, orthopaedic bed, electronic magnifier, stair lift, car adaptation, mobility scooter
- aids to support ongoing work/study where the government’s “Access to Work” support for aids and adaptations is not available
- essential building repairs (after all other avenues have been pursued through local authorities)
- electrical/gas appliances
- funeral and associated costs.
Funds cannot be used for:
- IOSH membership renewal. If you are looking for help to pay your IOSH membership renewal, please refer to the Concessionary membership page.
- personal or business debts
- legal costs
- private school fees
- home purchase
- repayment of loans
- private healthcare
- civil or criminal fines, court costs, victim surcharges etc.
- long-term support for a diminished income, especially where support from the Fund would affect entitlement to state benefits.
The IOSH Benevolent Fund does not provide loans.
How to apply
To request help from the Fund you will need to complete an application form.
Once received, one of our Governance Advisors will verify that you are eligible for support. Please provide as much information as possible on the application form to help us with this assessment.
Provided you’re eligible, our Governance Advisors will ask you to provide further information regarding your financial circumstances. This will be reviewed and, if appropriate, your application will be forwarded to the fund’s trustees, who are responsible for governing the fund. Collectively they will assess your application and, at their absolute discretion, decide whether or not the Fund is able to help you, and if so, the value of funds that will be paid out.
The Trustees assess applications against the objects of the charity as set out in the Trust Deed.
Your application will be processed as soon as possible, usually within 25 days of us having received it.
Repeat applications
Repeat applications are welcomed so if you are a previous recipient of support from the IBF and your circumstances continue or change, please get in touch.
If you have any queries regarding the fund or would like to discuss your specific circumstances please email benevolentfund@iosh.com.
Supporting the fund
The fund is reliant on donations and investment income in order to be able to continue providing help. If you would like to donate to the fund we would be very grateful.
Downloads
IOSH Benevolent Fund annual report
Report for the year ended 31 March 2021