Welfare Committee Report for 2005

Committee members for 2005 were:

• Royston Davis (chair)

• Dave Parsons

• Barbara Whiffin

• Sheila O'Reilly (stepped down)

• Pauline Roberts

Over 2005 the committee has received many contacts from current and retired members requiring advice and financial assistance.

Much of our assistance has been in signposting the members to services such as UNISON Debt-line and or benefits agency or just by being a listening ear.

However, we have also helped our members to make claims for financial assistance from the National UNISON Welfare.

Over the last 12 months behave assisted a number of our members with gaining grants from UNISON Welfare ranging from a £100.00 to assist with travel costs, to a £1,100.00 grant to assist with mortgage arrears and short term living costs. We have also assisted four of our members with getting either a Family Holiday Association family holiday or a Get Well Break.

In May 2005 Dave Parsons and I attended the National UNISON Welfare AGM and training workshops in York. We attended training workshops on Communication, Rule-book Benefits, Domestic Violence and Bereavement Benefits.

In November 2005 Barbara Whiffin and I attended the South West Regional Welfare training about EDF assistance fund and general Benefits availability training.

Early in 2005 the committee produced a Welfare contact sheet which included the names of the branch committee members and a list of contact numbers for various helping organisations such as SSAFA, Samaritans etc.

Sadly Sheila had to step down from the committee mid-way through the year due to increasing work load commitments, however the rest of us are keen to continue with the committee for this coming 2006.

Good health and prosperity.

Royston Davis

(Please accept my apologies for not being able to attend the AGM to give this report verbally)