Jennifer
The financial support was a total relief. I can't think of another way to describe it
“I remember my parents taking my children to stay with them for a couple of days, as I needed some time to focus on our situation and space to work out what we might do.”
This seemed to be a turning point for Jennifer, who had suffered a stroke whilst giving birth to twins. Having spent nine months with her parents, recovering from the stroke, she was now living independently once again. The financial strain that affected her when she returned to work on a part-time basis, however, meant that Jennifer was really beginning to struggle with life’s basics and the mortgage payments were her biggest concern.
*The image used in this case is a representation of our beneficiary to retain the privacy of her and her family (photo by Donnie Ray Jones on flickr)
I received an email about financial support and it really caught my eye
“I knew about the Benevolent Fund because it was always included in subscription renewal communications from the ICE but I hadn’t ever considered what the Ben Fund did and how it helped people. I received an email from them about financial support and it really caught my eye. I was experiencing financial difficulty at the time and was incredibly stressed. The email was very timely and relevant. I remember thinking, why would the Ben Fund help me? There are worse situations than mine. I didn’t have anything to lose though, so I got in touch to find out more about it and began the application process.”
Like all applicants, Jennifer received a visit from one of the Ben Fund volunteer visitors, who is also an ICE member and a civil engineer. He supported Jennifer through the application process and was able to answer questions about the Ben Fund and the help it can offer.
It was nice to speak with someone from the same industry who knows what it is like.
The application process itself is very detailed and involves looking at income and expenditure in detail to give a full picture of someone’s financial situation. The Ben Fund also offers an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) service to talk through budgeting and managing finances.
“It was good to talk to the IFA to get an independent view on how you’re managing your finances and what could be improved. He affirmed many of my choices and was able to offer advice on new mortgage deals. He reinforced that I was managing my finances as efficiently as I could and that brought peace of mind."
When the monthly financial grant was awarded I felt instant relief. I was in less of a panic and stopped worrying about what the next day would bring because I was sure above all else my children had a secure home. My mood lifted instantly knowing that I would have the money for basic shopping, nursery fees and to keep our home.
I stopped worrying about what the next day would bring
I was surprised by the amount of help I received from the Ben Fund and how much it changed things, not only for me but for my two young children and inadvertently my parents. Without the Ben Fund, I would have had to move back in with them, lose my independence and this would have put strain on the family dynamics.
The future looks positive. Life is still a struggle, bringing up two small children on my own on a part-time salary but I know the Ben Fund is there to support us, both emotionally and if necessary, financially, should we ever need that again in the future.”
Following my experience, I would urge any Member experiencing difficulties to contact the Ben Fund at the earliest opportunity, as it is surprising how they are able to help and transform your life.
*The image used in this case is a representation of our beneficiary to retain the privacy of her and her family (photo by Donnie Ray Jones on flickr)