Welfare and how the Past Members Association can help….

One of the key aims of the Past Members Association (PMA) is the welfare of its members, its not a cliché but a fact that our members are the most important part of our association and we want to do all in our power to assist those in need - when they are in need. It is a sad reality that as we get older things start to work a little slower and less efficiently, even more worrying is the problem of isolation some of our members endure.

We can't make things work better (so please no requests for purple pills!) but if we are made aware of people in difficulty or alone and in need of a welfare visit we will do all we can to assist.

Clearly there are a couple of issues here that we need your help with:

1. We need to be aware of personal difficulty- if we don’t know we cannot act , so don't be proud - tell us. If you are aware of other colleagues in need of a visit or assistance - again tell us.
2. The Management Group is a small team of people that might not personally know the individual in need - we think its best that any visits made are done so by familiar and friendly faces so we need volunteers to make these occasional visits……..

Remember too that sometimes we can provide assistance over the phone….. Got a problem arranging a visit to a Fire-fighter Charity convalescent home ? Contact us . Having difficulty getting the Council to address your domestic arrangements ? Contact us .

We cannot guarantee resolution but we will try…..

PMA Chaplain - Rev Terry Lane

The Rev Terry Lane, who formerly served at Redbridge Hill Fire Station, has taken the role of the HFRS Past Members Association Chaplain and is available to members for assistance in times of need and in particular at times of bereavement.  If you wish to meet or talk with Terry please contact him direct 02380361193 or via his email at:

Bereavement - How the PMA can Help

The death of a close family member can be extremely traumatic and difficult for those left behind to deal with, certainly in the initial stages. You will inevitably feel a number of emotions and it is quite possible you may feel confused or at a loss as to what to do next. Follow this link to find out the full details of what the PMA can offer you at this sad time.

PMA Standard and Coffin Shroud

The HFRS Past Members Association will seek to provide welfare support to it's members through both direct and indirect means.  Work is currently going on to put into place the means to provide, upon request, the following:

One Standard and one drape is held at Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters under the care of the Central Services team and the other Standard and drape is held by PMA Secretary Alan House. In the first instance, a request for the use should be made via the PMA Secretary or any other committee member, but in event of not being able to contact a committee member, a request can be made via Service Headquarters.

There is no charge for use, but there is an expectation that all items loaned will be returned in good condition together with any protective covers or bags.

The Fire Fighters Charity

To most of us it will always be the 'Ben Fund ' but whatever its called the aims remain the same, to reduce hardship amongst firefighters past and present and their dependants. The range of services on offer today make the charity one of the best available , and its all for you !

Most will be aware of the convalescent homes at Littlehampton and Harcombe but are you aware of the state of the art Jubilee Therapy Centre at Penrith.  Jubilee is a centre of excellence providing therapy and training for those recovering from muscular-skeletal injuries. They use the very latest equipment and highly trained staff to get you on the road to recovery and full health as quickly as possible.

You might of course just want to sit in the sun ( that’s a big yellow thing that your mum and dad used to talk about ) and that’s ok too - remember if you want to rent a stay at Marine Court in Littlehampton and at Harcombe House in Chudleigh in Devon you can do so for a very reasonable cost - and in the knowledge that your money is going to your charity. Interested? Call 0870 242 7592 to find out about availability.

The Fire Fighters Charity can also help in other ways, financial/debt problems, the installation of stair lifts, hand rails etc. If you feel the Charity can help you can either ring the Fire Fighters Charity rep at Headquarters (023 8064 4000) or ring the charity direct.  For the Fire Fighters Charity Helpline ring 0800 389 8820 on Tuesday between 2-4pm or Wednesday and Thursday between 10am and 12 noon. If you specifically want to speak about therapy or recuperation try 0870 240 6543 between 9am and 7pm.  The website of The Fire Fighters Charity is www.firefighterscharity.org.uk so why not click on the link to find out more on how they can be of help to you.

Losing a loved one is never easy and even with the passing of time they are missed, remembering them and celebrating their life is a way that memories can live on. The Fire Fighters Charity can help by providing you with the means to create and publish your own dedication with up to 1500 words and up to 3 photographs on a dedicated page of their website. It also allows additional tribute pages to be added, so personal words, anecdotes and stories can be shared by other loved ones to.  If you want to learn more about this just click on the following link:

http://www.friendsandrelations.com/partners/firefighters/html/display.php

Also just launched is the brand new, and excellently produced, Fire Fighters Charity email newsletter 'Shout' targeted specifically at retired members of the service, it's well worth having, so sign up for it now by clicking here.

Berta and Hector Young Trust (B&H)

Many of you will be unaware of these charitable trust that exists to help Hampshire fire-fighters and their dependants. During the dark days of World War II enemy bombers destroyed many parts of Southampton, one of the victims in 1940 was a lady by the name of Berta Young. Her body was recovered by firemen of Southampton. Many years in later 1969 Hector Young remembered the care and compassion of those heroes with grimy faces and made a bequest to the widows and orphans of Southampton Fire Brigade.

Today that bequest has grown to a small but significant sum and the beneficiary base has been extended to all those that have served in Hampshire. The fund is used by the Trustees to relieve hardship amongst Hampshire fire-fighters ( both current and retired) and their dependants. The aims of the B&H trust are very similar to the Fire-fighters Charity but the Trustees have a greater freedom to be flexible in their approach to requests - often this means the B&H can respond faster than is the case with the Fire-fighters charity. It should be noted that the fund receives no income other than very small interest so the sum available is a diminishing sum.

If you (or a colleague) are in distress and feel that the B&H could assist in some way please contact me on 023 80 62 6828 or e-mail phil.webb@hantsfire.gov.uk

Data Protection

You will all be aware of the Data Protection Act and the protection this offers to us all in preventing personal data misuse. Unfortunately sometimes this can cause organisations such as ours problems. For example if we are informed that one of our colleagues is unwell and would welcome a visit we would have to 'publicise' the details perhaps by ringing around former colleagues of the individual to arrange a visit.

Clearly unless the individual consents for certain personal information to be used in this way we cannot make any arrangements. Do please consider this when telling us of a colleagues predicament - perhaps clear it with them first that we can use their personal information in this way...

Other Ways We Can Help

Indirect support to members of the association will take the form of links to services provided by outside organisations that members and their families would be entitled to access.  We endeavour to ensure that these providers of free advise and are recommended by government agencies.  These useful links include:

Service orientated providers:

Debt advice providers:

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Copyright © 2009 HFRS Past Members Association
Last modified: 10/10/11