What can BTBS The book trade charity do for you?

The prime objective is to provide assistance for people in need throughout the UK who have worked in functions relating to the publishing and selling of books for a period of at least twelve months, and their immediate dependent relatives.

The Grants Programme

• Funding for retraining unemployed people
• Practical support to assist carers
• Health and medical aid
• Regular income subsidy for those in need
• Emergency payments for house hold repairs

Advice and Accommodation

• Sheltered housing accommodation in Hertfordshire
• Guidance on alternative accommodation throughout the UK
• Advice on eligibility for State benefits

Some recent grants from the Society

We know there are many people eligible for assistance who do not contact us, either because they do not know we exist, or because they know of us but do not feel they are eligible for help. We cannot promise to be able to help in every case, but we would welcome the opportunity to consider giving support - the following examples are not exhaustive; we are flexible enough to be able to consider applications for a wide range of situations.

BTBS, as the welfare charity of the book trade, has been able to assist in the following ways:

• After a career in publishing spanning 45 years, Mr A was left severely disabled and housebound by a variety of chronic health problems. He requested assistance with the purchase of an electric scooter to enable him to regain some independence. The Society was able to assist with a grant; in acknowledging our assistance he said "...suddenly you realise how much you have been missing when you have not been able to get out and about, thank you..."
• Mr B was made redundant after 12 years as a publisher's representative; the Society offered a grant for a course to enable him to re-train as a free-lance proof-reader. (We have also funded applicants on courses in picture library development, bookselling and computer courses, etc.).
• Unemployed, and suffering from depression, Mr C had not had a holiday in six years, and could not foresee the possibility of affording one. We were able to offer the use of the Guest Bungalow at The Retreat (the Society's sheltered housing estate) for a long weekend in a restful environment - and make a contribution towards the travelling costs, so Mr C could recharge his batteries.
• Left as a single parent, Ms D was struggling to bring up two children while working as a freelance designer in the book trade; she had been made redundant after 23 months in employment. The Society was able to provide a computer on long term loan, to enable her to work at home, at the standard necessary to gain work.
• Mr E retired due to ill-health, after eight years in the trade. He is now severely disabled with Multiple Sclerosis. The Society contributes towards two weeks of respite care every couple of months; this enables his wife to have a break from continuous caring, and enables Mr E to continue his life without having to go into a nursing home permanently. (We also provide help for people looking after spouses with Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and other debilitating problems).
• Mrs F had been widowed at an early age, and had spent her life working in bookshops. At 78, she was living in sheltered housing, but could not afford the sudden rise in service charges. A small grant each week from the Society, supplementing her state pension, allowed her to continue to live in her home and still manage to get by financially. (7he Society assists many elderly people with regular grants; help with telephone bills or TV licences, one-off grants to provide household appliances, help with car expenses - where this is vital to maintain independence - and unexpected or emergency house repairs).
• After many years as a representative, Mr G now lives in a nursing home in Scotland; the Society was asked to provide a small grant for pocket money so that he could have a short holiday in another nursing home (the fees being covered by Ws local authority). In maintaining contact with Mr G, we discovered he would appreciate occasional visits from someone still connected with the book trade. With our contacts throughout the trade we were able to find a volunteer, who lived only fifteen miles away and who was only too pleased to be put in touch.
• Mrs H (59) is widowed, and was made redundant two years before normal retirement age. She is struggling to survive on Job seekers' allowance, but gradually going into debt just with normal living expenses. When her boiler went wrong recently, leaving her with no heating or hot water, she did not know where to turn. The Society arranged to have her boiler repaired, and offered a monthly grant; she now feels she can manage to get by. ( We have also replaced cookers, showers and other essential household appliances for other applicants).

If you, or anyone you know, are experiencing problems, the Society is there to help.

Anyone who has worked for more than one year in publishing, distribution or bookselling, in a wide range of qualifying functions, and is in difficult personal circumstances is eligible for assistance.

Whatever the problems - try us.