Page 55 - the SyI Quarterly V3 digital (1)

Who do we seek to help?
SBF is the only charity dedicated to working with this sector, a profession that has great importance to the UK economy, integral to counter
terrorism operations and public safety. Our interventions to date have produced a long list of successes, including:
Charles died of a heart attack getting ready to commence his shift, leaving 4 young children. Earning £9.00 per hour without any insurances,
we learned that Charles’s widow was going to borrow money from a payday lender to bury him. We supported her along with family and
friends. “This financial support really assisted me and my family at this very difficult time. We are all so thankful to the financial support
received and cannot thank the SBF enough”

An urgent application for assistance was received from a charity for the homeless on behalf of Simon who at the time was sleeping rough.
He had worked as a security officer and had various short-term security jobs (he had an SIA Licence) as he moved around the country.
Simon had been a victim of abuse as a child, suffered from mental health issues as a result, which made it difficult for him to hold down
a job, so he had often travelled from place to place, sleeping rough and trying to find work where he could. Whilst sleeping rough, he was
the victim of a random attack which left him with life changing injuries meaning he could no longer work and was reliant on benefits. Our
intervention helped him into permanent safe accommodation, no longer in danger of attack in what can be a ruthless world. “This is just
one case of many. The fact that the SBF listened and reached out to support, means more people like Simon can be helped in the future.
Our thanks go out to everyone involved”

Matt had worked as a security guard for a variety of companies over many years. He was signed off work with mental health issues but
hoped to be able to return to work in due course. He had recently split up with his long-term partner and, as a result found himself
homeless – his partner being the sole tenancy holder. He was sleeping on the sofa at his family’s house but could not stay there. Our
intervention helped him get accommodation, he now sees his young son and Matt is working and studying to be a security supervisor. “The
SBF helped me to get back to some form of normality, giving me the opportunity to once again see my Son. I cannot thank the SBF enough
for their generosity and actually caring enough to get involved and support me”

Nancy was a sofa surfer with a 6 year-old daughter. She was not looking for money, but support. Who could she turn to, to get out of this
hell? One of our Trustees knew who could support her, it was important that she kept her job and income. Two years later she has a new
life, she works in security but now is a supervisor – Nancy and her daughter are doing well.

“It is the kind, caring nature of the people within the SBF that helped turn my life around”

The immediate future
At first glance we may look back on relative social and economic success that most of us have enjoyed in recent years. Yet, there has always
been that underlying social need, some of which would seem to have manifested itself in the last 6 months during which we have received
an increase in applications of some 25-30%. Now that the dreaded Coronavirus has struck we can only expect the needs of those associated
with the security sector will be sustained, if not further increased.

We have been able to support many of those applications: those who have fallen victim to exceptional circumstances, almost always beyond
their control, frequently as a result of serious physical illness and increasingly, mental ill-health.

To quote the Michael Barley , Master WCoSP “ Kindness, compassion and humanity are needed now more than ever. We like to think this
is personified in what the SBF has done and continues to do to support those in our profession less fortunate. We can only anticipate this
will be needed even more in the current, almost unprecedented circumstances of Covid-19. Now is the time to make a difference “.

The SBF website gives guidance of how to apply for a grant from the fund: www.securitybenevolentfund.org.uk
The SBF urgently needs additional funds to assist the ever-increasing numbers seeking support. We would be enormously grateful for any
donations to the fund. Please send donations to: https://www.gofundme.com/the-securitybenevolent-fund
or by post to: The Security Benevolent Fund, Clerk to the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals, 4 Holmere Farm Cottages, Goose
Green, Ashill, Thetford, IP25 7AS Contact: [email protected]

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