Helping our own
This week is your chance to help raise money for colleagues in need via our in-house charity, the Rowland Hill Fund (RHF).
The Fund supports colleagues, past and present, and their dependents. It can provide financial help with rent, mortgage and council tax arrears, home modifications, disability aids, funeral expenses and much more.
In 2017-2018, there were 420 successful applications to the Fund and £500,000 was given to our people. Thanks to your incredible efforts, we raised a stunning £145,000 for the Fund – the highest amount ever.
This week we will hear from some of the people whose lives have been changed for the better by the money they received from the Fund.
Former postman David Vear received £1,421 for a much needed mobility scooter
David has acute mobility issues due to Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a group of inherited disorders that cause nerve damage, mostly in the arms and legs. David was diagnosed with CMT in 1997, shortly after leaving Royal Mail following 14 years’ service.
David’s condition requires a great deal of effort and resolve from him and his family. His son, Christopher, who is currently attending university, was also diagnosed with CMT.
David’s wife, Jackie, currently works part-time at a primary school. This allows Jackie to care for her husband and son; it also provides a modest income which helps the family’s financial situation and gives her much needed respite from her caring duties. Jackie suffers from a number of medical conditions herself, which makes her already challenging care role even more demanding at times.
Jackie has stated that when the family go out together, she struggles to look after her husband and son at the same time. Before David’s mobility scooter arrived, both father and son had manual wheelchairs that she was required to push. David’s mobility scooter allows him to move under his own power, freeing up Jackie to tend to their son.
'I am just writing to say a huge thank you to the Rowland Hill Fund for awarding me a grant to purchase a mobility scooter,’ said David. ‘It means that I can at last join my wife on walks around the village with our dog, Barley-Bramble. The application process was quick and easy and the advisor we spoke to was very polite and helpful.’
Our fundraising week is your opportunity to support the Fund by raising as much money as you can towards the £160,000 target the Fund has for 2018/19. The money will then be reinvested directly into helping our colleagues.
You can request a charity bucket and other materials, such as posters and leaflets, by contacting the Fund directly:
If you know someone who would benefit from help and support, contact the Fund via the confidential Rowland Hill Fund helpline on 0345 600 4586.
