Thelma Lovick
Benevolent Fund Chair

https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.97.43

The Benevolent Fund of The Physiological Society (the Ben Fund) is a charity within The Society, which was established by Trust Deed in 1976 ‘for the purpose of assisting Members of The Physiological Society (‘The Society’) and staff and former staff (who by the nature of their employment can be considered to have contributed to the advancement of physiology) employed at teaching, research and industrial establishments who are in necessitous circumstances and their dependants’.

What does this dry legal statement mean in real life?

What it means is that there is a relatively small pot of money that can be called on to help anyone associated with Physiology. The beauty of the Fund is its simplicity and rapid response.

How does the Fund work?

The Ben Fund works within a formal framework but in an informal rapid response mode. There is no formal application form. Applicants simply email one of the trustees or The Society’s office and make a case for support. The request is then emailed to the trustees who confer, again usually by email. A decision is normally reached within a few days.

Who can apply?

Anyone can apply but applications usually come from members of The Society who have identified a needy cause. This is not necessarily another Society member; the only criterion is that they have contributed to the advancement of physiology in its broadest sense. So this might be another scientist or a member of their family, or a member of technical or domestic support staff in your institution who contributes to the advancement of physiology in an indirect way. We rely on members to identify a deserving case and alert us.

Who decides on awards?

There is a small committee of elected trustees comprising the Chair, three Society members and two ex officio members (the Society’s President and Treasurer). The committee meets formally once a year; in the past this has been immediately before the AGM, usually to coincide with the main summer meeting. However, most business throughout the year is conducted by email. All applications are treated in confidence and considered on a case-by-case basis.

Who administers the Fund?

The Ben Fund is a separate Trust from The Physiological Society. However, it is administered by The Society’s officers. Our expenses are therefore very low.

Where does the money come from?

The Fund relies from donations from Society members. Typically this is in the form of one- off or regular donations. As we are a charity you can Gift Aid your donation, which increases its value to the Fund by 25%, as we can claim the tax back. A small amount of money is also generated by events like raffles. Retired and Honorary Members of The Society, who no longer have to pay a membership fee, sometimes donate their subscription to the Fund, which is much appreciated.

How much money is there?

The Ben Fund is a very small charity, so awards are relatively modest. In recent years grants have ranged from £200 to £2000. The beauty of the Fund is that we can respond very quickly. In an emergency, even a relatively small sum can make a significant difference to people’s lives.

Some examples of awards:

Health and carer support including assistance towards specialist wheelchairs, home adaptations, mobility equipment and respite care (including welfare breaks).

Short-term financial assistance in the form of grants and donations when you are facing exceptional financial difficulties including funeral arrangements, medical treatment, grants for re-training and childcare arrangements.

What is excluded?

We cannot fund applications for travel to meetings, student fees or stipends, seminars or meetings. This is outside the remit of the Trust and there simply isn’t enough money, however worthy the cause.

Find further information about the Ben Fund and make a donation on the Fund’s website www.physoc.org/benfund