Ambulance Services Benevolent Fund

December, 2009	Issue Number: 4
Welcome to the 4th edition of ‘The Retirement Link’ and on behalf of all the ASBF Trustees may I forward our special thanks to all those who have so kindly supported our work amongst our serving and retired colleagues in a whole variety of ways during 2009. Without your help it would be very difficult to continue in such an effective manner. I was recently asked, “what exactly does the ASBF do?” and on the spur of the moment I replied “we are the Ambulance Services equivalent to the Militaries Royal British Legion”. Well it was rather a rash comment but I guess our ideals and role are the same in principle, but our finances certainly aren’t. However, as Trustees we have high ideals and big dreams that one day we will be on a par with them. We can not rise to this challenge on our own, we need your practical and financial support both now and in the future, can we count you in? Sadly it may be you that needs our help one day in the future and we can only offer help in line with our regular income. We are not a ‘Friendly Society’ who pays out set amounts for different illnesses or hardships on the condition you are a paid up member, but we do try to meet the needs of all claimants within the financial resources we have available, hence our continual fundraising drive. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Chairman, Paul Leopold, for his guidance throughout another year and especially for taking on the role of our web-site ‘web-master’. Paul is always happy to add relevant news and fundraising events onto our web-site, so please keep him busy, send him your fundraising news today:- pleopold@toucansurf.com Once again, as with previous editions please feel at liberty to forward this news letter to any interested parties. Best wishes Simon Fermor, ASBF Secretary

There are about 38,000 serving members of the NHS Ambulance Services and I have no idea how many retired members, a wild guess says something like four times the serving numbergiving a combined total of roundabout 200,000. With that number in mind I frequently daydream of all of those people actively supporting the ASBF. My daydreams take me into the realms of convalescent homes; physiotherapy services; a major reduction in people retiring on ill health pensions; mobility aids and a range of other support services to cater for the needs that confront some of those 200,000 people and which they cannot for one reason or another provide for themselves. My daydreams come to a skidding halt when I think of the cost of providing support of that quality and extent and yet the means of raising the funding required is, I suggest, within the means of everyone who is or has served in the Ambulance Service because all that is needed is the equivalent of two cups of tea or coffee a month. Think about that. Virtually everyone of us drinks at least two cups of tea or coffee a day, some a great many more and we give no thought at all to that enjoyable habit. Donating the equivalent of that daily habit once a month would enable the ASBF to move into the league populated by the fire service, the police and the military in terms of support for their personnel. Do you not wonder, like me, why should someone whose work place involves an ambulance be less well supported when support is needed as compared with those whose equivalent vehicle is a tank, a fire appliance or a fast car. The fact of the matter is that every member of those other services does something to ensure that their Benevolent Funds are fully funded and that “something” is, that they donate to them from the day that they join their particular service and continue to donate wherever and in whatever role, rank or grade they serve and during their retirement. They do this because of the spirit of pride of belonging and mutual support that permeates their services a spirit that so obviously also exists in the Ambulance Service. Two cups of tea or coffee a month – do it now – there is a Give As You Earn Form and a Standing Order Form available for download on the web site www.asbf.co.uk or you can get one from Simon Fermor our Secretary.

The Ambulance Memorial Planning Committee are now pleased to be able to confirm that Thursday 16th September, 2010 at 1400 hours (including the use of the 'Chapel of Peace') has now been formally booked with the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire for the next re-union / bi-annual Memorial service. Please remember to add this date to your 2010 diary. We are also pleased to be able to confirm that we now have 'uniformed' members of staff to undertake all of the key roles:- Rev Peter Clark, RNR, (SECAMB Chaplain), Rev Alan Drake, (NWAS), Brian Pullen – Bugler (SECAMB), Cliff Randall – Music (Welsh Amb), Seth Myeni - Piper (Scottish Amb) Would you or a member of your Service or Retirement Association like to lay a wreath at the 2010 Memorial? If so, the Secretary will need to have your name and full details of who you will be representing by 14th August, 2010 (at the very latest). Details not received by this closing date will not be accommodated in the 'order of service'. Our thanks to Merseyside Ambulance Retirement Association who are ‘leading the field’ by confirming that they will be laying a wreath. It’s your Memorial, so all are welcome to attend and we would love to see you there. Seating in the Chapel is limited to 110 places maximum and seating will only be reserved for VIP’s and members taking an active role in the service. Our advice is, if you plan to attend make sure you arrive in plenty of time if you would like a seat within the Chapel. For more information about the Arboretum why not visit: www.nationalmemorialarboretum.org To view the Roll of Honour please visit: www.freewebs.com/national-ambulance-memorial Dress Code: Uniform (if applicable) with medals (with or without uniform) (For more information please contact any of the Memorial Planning Committee:- Simon Fermor, Harry Goulding, Trevor Shelbourne & Cliff Randall)

Since the last edition one of our Trustees Gordon Enstone has added two more items to our sales bar, (1) 1.50th scale model ambulances in assorted liveries* and (2) his recently published book ‘Bells, Two Tones & Sirens’ which details his 34 year ambulance career in his own humorous manner. The profits of this book are generously being donated to the ASBF so we would encourage you to support Gordon, enjoy a good read and fundraise for the Fund in the process. At £8.50 they are very good value for money as they will cost £12.49 if you purchase a copy via Amazon. * these are not designed as toys and should not be purchased as such, they are collector’s limited edition scale models. Graham Andrews, Secretary of the Ambulance Preservation Society and model vehicle collector / trader of many years standing informs us they are excellent value for money and if kept as sold will increase in value over the years.

IF YOU WISH TO BUY ANY OF THESE ITEMS PLEASE CLICK HERE
We are able to recycle any old mobile phones (in any state or condition) and printer ink cartridges, please contact the Secretary who can forward pre-paid envelopes.

(The Trustees always maintain confidentiality of all those we assist)


We are grateful to ‘Ferno Care’ who sponsored the production of our cardboard ambulance shaped collection boxes and for all those who forward money periodically that has been collected in them. If you would like one or a replacement please contact the Secretary. Special thanks must also be recorded to Frank Gill, Haydyn Parry, Roy Pritchard,Trevor Shelbourne and Vic Holdsworth who are co-ordinating collection boxes in their local shops, clubs and Hotels on a regular basis which is proving to be a good source of income.


A big thank you to all those who undertook and finished the 2009 British 10K London run which raised over £1,000 in total. Unfortunately, due to sickness and last minute cancellations not all of the 12 ASBF allocated places were filled on the day. We have now just received confirmation for our 12 reserved places for 11th July 2010, which are now available on a ‘first come first served’ basis. As in previous years the course takes in London’s most spectacular and world renowned landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye and the historic beauty of Westminster Abbey. The race attracts top International athletes and celebrities from the stage and screen and you could be running shoulder to shoulder with them for free. What’s the catch? All we ask in return for your free place is that you get sponsors to support the ASBF (on-line giving / sponsorship now available). Don’t be put off by age or fitness levels as many treat the event as an achievement in finishing as apposed to the time taken, there can be as much joy in finishing than being first past the post. If taking part in such sporting events are now a distant memory why not encourage your children or grandchildren to participate and make then a special day of it to go and cheer them on! For further information please contact the ASBF Secretary either in writing or by e-mail.

You may have heard or read that the ASBF is part of a Campaign to encourage people to remember a Charity in their will, and I thought you would like to know more. The ASBF has joined with over 140 other charities to form the Remember A Charity consortium www.rememberacharity.org.uk which aims to encourage more people to include their favourite cause(s) in their will by making charitable will making a social norm in the UK. Legacies are a vital source of income for Charities and their value to the sector as a whole is 1.9billion. Yet this sum is generated by only a small percentage of the UK public. Currently 74%* of the UK population support charities, but only 7%** of people support charities by making a gift in their wills. However, the good news is that comprehensive research commissioned by Remember A Charity in 2008 revealed that 35% of people would consider including a gift to Charity after providing for their family and friends. Following the positive results from the first wave of media activity, July 2009 sees the second burst of Remember A Charity’s advertising campaign incorporating TV advertising and ongoing PR. The ground-breaking humorous adverts are themed around memorable last wishes and will be appearing on Channel 4, ITV3, and G.O.L.D. Further media activity is planned for the coming months including ongoing PR, a Charitable legacies Awareness Week in September and a least two more advertising bursts. To see the new Remember A Charity TV adverts and for further information you can visit www.rememberacharity.org.uk We are delighted to be part of this unique consortium, which gives us the opportunity to highlight the importance of legacies to our supporters and inspire them to consider a gift to Charity. * Legacy Foresight 2009 ** Legacy Giving Research, TNS Social 2008

Help raise money for free whenever you search the internet by using ‘everyclick’ as your search engine. Every few searches you make raises a penny for the ASBF, why give all the profit to the big search engine Companies?

Just register by clicking through the special referral link:- www.everyclick.com/uk/ambulanceservicesbenevolentfund And make everyclick.com your homepage / search engine and the ASBF your nominated Charity – it’s as simple as that and it’s free!

If you would like to discuss any financial issues on how best to support the ASBF please contact our Treasurer Mik Webb :- 18 Rhodfa'g Grug, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, LL29 6DJ. E-mail: mik.webb@btinternet.com
The ASBF Trustees wish you all a very happy Christmas and peaceful New Year and thank you for all your valuable support during 2009 including the generous donations made by the Ambulance Retirement Associations.