National Benevolent Fund for the Aged
Encyclopedia
The National Benevolent Fund for the Aged (NBFA) is a registered charity in the United Kingdom
which provides support for isolated, marginalised and lonely older people on low incomes.
has also demonstrated the link between social isolation and poor physical health.
The NBFA works with older people and associated organisations across England
, Scotland
, Wales
and Northern Ireland
.
The three main services the NBFA currently provides are 5-day Breaks-Away trips, TENS pain relief machines
and Emergency Home Telephone Alarms. These services are provided for free for older people (over the age of 60) who meet the charity's criteria. A day trips service was also introduced in 2011. Volunteers are particularly important to the work of the NBFA, both in the office and on the Breaks-Away.
The NBFA was founded in 1957. For the first few years it distributed monies raised to other organisations supporting older people. It then started to offer televisions to older people so that friends and neighbours would visit their homes and socialise, and then gradually introduced other services. its patron is Mary Soames, Baroness Soames
(daughter of Prime Minister Winston Churchill
), its president is Betty Boothroyd
and its chairman is Marion Roe
.
Its chairman from 1995 to 2010 (and trustee since 1974) was Winston Churchill
(grandson of the former prime minister), another link to the Churchill family since Clementine Churchill (widow of the prime minister) became president in 1972.
John de Trafford
, Roger Pincham
, Jeff Rooker, Baron Rooker
, Laura Sandys
and Tony Newton, Baron Newton of Braintree are among the trustees. The vice presidents are Christopher Herbert
, John Alderdice, Baron Alderdice
, Dafydd Elis-Thomas
, David Steel
and Frederick Forsyth
. George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy
was appointed chairman of the NBFA in 1984, having recently retired as Speaker of the House of Commons
. He served as chairman until 1994, when he was appointed president.
In 2007 Paul Burstow
introduced an Early Day Motion
congratulating the NBFA on its 50th anniversary.
The "Best Tea Time Ever" is an annual series of fund-raising events.
Chef Angela Hartnett
was spokesperson for the group for its 2007 event at the Chelsea Flower Show
.
The work of the charity is promoted through BBC Radio 4
appeals, such as in 2009.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which provides support for isolated, marginalised and lonely older people on low incomes.
Description
The National Benevolent Fund for the Aged's aim is to increase their independence and social confidence to make positive changes in their own lives. Research, including by John CacioppoJohn Cacioppo
John T. Cacioppo is the Tiffany and Margaret Blake Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago. He founded and is Director of the University of Chicago Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience and the Director of the Arete Initiative of the Office of the Vice President for...
has also demonstrated the link between social isolation and poor physical health.
The NBFA works with older people and associated organisations across England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
The three main services the NBFA currently provides are 5-day Breaks-Away trips, TENS pain relief machines
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is the use of electric current produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes...
and Emergency Home Telephone Alarms. These services are provided for free for older people (over the age of 60) who meet the charity's criteria. A day trips service was also introduced in 2011. Volunteers are particularly important to the work of the NBFA, both in the office and on the Breaks-Away.
The NBFA was founded in 1957. For the first few years it distributed monies raised to other organisations supporting older people. It then started to offer televisions to older people so that friends and neighbours would visit their homes and socialise, and then gradually introduced other services. its patron is Mary Soames, Baroness Soames
Mary Soames, Baroness Soames
Mary Soames, Baroness Soames, is the youngest of Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine's five children and, as of 2011, the sole surviving child...
(daughter of Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
), its president is Betty Boothroyd
Betty Boothroyd
Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd, OM, PC is a British politician, who served as Member of Parliament for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000, initially for the Labour Party and, from 1992 to 2000, as Speaker of the House of Commons...
and its chairman is Marion Roe
Marion Roe
Dame Marion Audrey Roe, DBE is a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom.-Early life:She went to independent Bromley High School for Girls , then the independent Croydon High School...
.
Its chairman from 1995 to 2010 (and trustee since 1974) was Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill (grandson)
Winston Spencer-Churchill , generally known as Winston Churchill, was a British Conservative Party politician and a grandson of former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.-Early life:...
(grandson of the former prime minister), another link to the Churchill family since Clementine Churchill (widow of the prime minister) became president in 1972.
John de Trafford
John de Trafford
Sir John Humphrey de Trafford, 7th Baronet, MBE is a British businessman and banker. He is the son of Sir Dermot de Trafford, 6th Baronet and his first wife Patricia Mary Beeley...
, Roger Pincham
Roger Pincham
Roger Pincham is a former British Liberal Party politician.Pincham studied at Wimbledon Park School and Kingston Grammar School before becoming a stockbroker. He stood as the Liberal Party candidate for Leominster at each election from 1970 to 1983, coming only 579 votes, less than 2% away from...
, Jeff Rooker, Baron Rooker
Jeff Rooker, Baron Rooker
Jeffrey William Rooker, Baron Rooker, PC is a British politician, who served as the Labour Member of Parliament for Birmingham Perry Barr from 1974 until 2001...
, Laura Sandys
Laura Sandys
Laura Jane Sandys is a British Conservative Party politician. She has been the Member of Parliament for South Thanet since the general election on 6 May 2010.-Early life:...
and Tony Newton, Baron Newton of Braintree are among the trustees. The vice presidents are Christopher Herbert
Christopher Herbert
Christopher William Herbert is the former Bishop of St Albans.He was born on 7 January 1944, in Lydney in the Forest of Dean. His father helped run the family road haulage business, but was also very proud of his roots as a foundryman in a local iron works....
, John Alderdice, Baron Alderdice
John Alderdice, Baron Alderdice
John Thomas Alderdice, Baron Alderdice is a Northern Ireland politician. He was Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly 1998-2004, leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland 1987-1998, and since 1996 sits in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat.-Personal life:Alderdice was born to the...
, Dafydd Elis-Thomas
Dafydd Elis-Thomas
Dafydd Elis Elis-Thomas, Baron Elis-Thomas, PC, AM, is a Welsh politician and was the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales until 2011...
, David Steel
David Steel
David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood, KT, KBE, PC is a British Liberal Democrat politician who served as the Leader of the Liberal Party from 1976 until its merger with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the Liberal Democrats...
and Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth, CBE is an English author and occasional political commentator. He is best known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan and The Cobra.-...
. George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy
George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy
Thomas George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy PC was a British Labour Party politician and Speaker of the House of Commons. Born in Port Talbot, Wales, he initially worked as a teacher in both London and Cardiff...
was appointed chairman of the NBFA in 1984, having recently retired as Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the House of Commons can refer to:*Speaker of the House of Commons *Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada*Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons...
. He served as chairman until 1994, when he was appointed president.
In 2007 Paul Burstow
Paul Burstow
Paul Kenneth Burstow , British politician, is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam. In May 2010 he was appointed Minister of State for the Department of Health.-Early life:...
introduced an Early Day Motion
Early day motion
An Early Day Motion , in the Westminster system, is a motion, expressed as a single sentence, tabled by Members of Parliament for debate "on an early day" . Controversial EDMs are not signed by Government Ministers, PPS or the Speaker of the House of Commons and very few are debated on the floor...
congratulating the NBFA on its 50th anniversary.
The "Best Tea Time Ever" is an annual series of fund-raising events.
Chef Angela Hartnett
Angela Hartnett
Angela Hartnett MBE is an English Chef. A protégé of Gordon Ramsay who was made famous by her appearances on British television, she was Chef-Patron at The Connaught in London...
was spokesperson for the group for its 2007 event at the Chelsea Flower Show
Chelsea Flower Show
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, formally known as the Great Spring Show, is a garden show held for five days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London...
.
The work of the charity is promoted through BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
appeals, such as in 2009.