Charities - trades and professions

The Actors’ Benevolent Fund was founded in 1882 by Sir Henry Irving and a group of his friends as a national charity to care for actors and actresses unable to work because of accidents, illness or simply old age.

Combat Stress is the leading charity specialising in the care of British Veterans who have been profoundly traumatised by harrowing experiences during their Service career. We help Veterans from the Armed Forces and Merchant Navy – from all ranks, conflicts and of all ages.

Since 1908 the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund (EABF), also known as The Royal Variety Charity, has been quietly helping out behind the scenes to bring essential comfort and support to those who have dedicated their lives to the entertainment of others. For many, the Fund is their only lifeline. Show business has never been a secure occupation and as it becomes even more diverse, so the scope of our responsibilities broadens. We provide support to all members of the entertainment profession regardless of whether they work front of stage, behind the scenes or in the box office.

Today, many of the Gurkhas who helped fight for our freedom in World War Two and beyond desperately need our help. Without a monthly ‘welfare pension’ from the Gurkha Welfare Trust, many of these brave old soldiers and their dependants would be destitute.

LawWorks aims to reduce social disadvantage, financial hardship, multiple deprivation and resulting stress by the provision of free legal advice on social welfare law (housing, debt, welfare benefits, employment, contract and consumer law). Free legal advice is sourced for people and small not-for-profit organisations that cannot access legal aid and are unable to afford to pay legal fees.

The Metropolitan Police Benevolent Fund (the Fund) provides assistance to serving, and former Metropolitan Police Officers and their dependants in need.

Helping farming families in financial difficulty

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution is a grant-making charity which supports farmers and farmworkers in financial difficulty. You may not have heard of us, but we have worked quietly and confidentially since 1860 and now help more than 1,500 families a year.

Modern veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses face the challenges of a rapidly changing world, where animal and human health needs are interlinked as never before. We help the veterinary profession, especially veterinary teams in practice, to maintain the highest standards of knowledge, treatment and care for all animals.

Every year the SBA helps hundreds of solicitors and their families who are in personal financial need as a result of illness, accident, redundancy or other adverse event. Often the applicants are young and prevented from working by the onset of a disabling disease such as MS or stress-induced breakdown. The SBA pays out over £1M annually in grants plus several hundred thousand pounds in secured loans. In addition, the SBA provides access to a sympathetic and supporting network of local area representatives who maintain regular contact with beneficiaries to help get them back on their feet.