Once in a while , we all go through challenging situations in our lives , and some of us are more fortunate than others to have people to help us face those difficult times . In the electrical sector , many people are less fortunate when it comes to the support network . Currently , there is a significant number of people in our industry including retired electricians , apprentices , families and colleagues who are facing tough life challenges on their own as they have no one to turn to . The Electrical Industries Charity ( EIC ) provides support for those desperately in need of a helping hand through its four different programmes , which include the Pensioner Support Programme , Employee and Family Support Programme , Apprentice Support Programme , and Practical Participation Programme .
The Pensioner Support Programme has been created by the charity to lift the heavy financial burden of our retired colleagues and help them to have the peaceful retirement they deserve without consistent worries and financial struggles . Retirement itself is commonly seen as the time when people stop working and start living . It can also be seen as a new phase in life which brings a lot of new and exciting opportunities . But there could be a host of challenges when you retire too .
Currently , in the UK there are 14.9 million people aged 60 and over . Furthermore , 40 per cent of all individuals aged 65 or over have a life limiting , long standing illness . For many individuals , being retired means a reduced income so they may struggle to pay household bills , debts or unexpected expenses such as replacing a broken appliance . The Pensioner Support Programme is designed to assist retired people and their families in the electrical industry by giving them a way to connect with fellow retired colleagues as well as helping them with any financial issues they may be facing .
Another key programme that the charity has created is the Apprentice Support Programme which helps young people deal with some of the key challenges that affect them as they work towards their apprenticeship . This programme allows young apprentices to achieve their goals and create a better future by having the support they need . The Apprentice Support Programme offers bursaries , independent advice and information through the Confidential Helpline on a wide variety of issues , such as rising debt and problems at home or work .
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Difficult circumstances
The Employee and Family Support Programme is another programme that was created to specifically help our industry ’ s employees and their families who are facing the most challenging situations in their life . We all go through difficult circumstances in our lives when we experience stress , anxiety or even depression , and we all know how important it is to have someone there who you can talk to when times get tough . According to the Health and Safety Executive , one in six workers are currently experiencing stress , anxiety or depression and 43 per cent of them still state that they would not feel comfortable discussing mental health issues with their manager or employer . Over 70 million working days are currently being lost each year as a result of these problems which costs the UK economy £ 26 billion . In response to this , the EIC launched the Employee & Family Support Programme to help people deal with life ’ s many problems . With its Employee & Family Support Programme , the charity offers individuals and their families independent advice and information through the Confidential Helpline for people needing help with a broad range of issues including debt , legal advice , financial assistance and grants and career advice amongst many other things . One of the four programmes that the charity is also currently running to provide a bigger support network for people in our industry is the Practical Participation Programme . This programme allows industry experts to work alongside the charity in solving , or contributing to solutions , for those desperately needing help .
Brighter future
Throughout all of its programmes and fundraising events , the charity helps many people to get through challenging situations . One of the recent cases included keeping dreams alive for Brendan Moseley , a young man who desperately wanted to go to university to become an engineer but due to difficult circumstances he couldn ’ t pursue his dream . The charity recognised how important university was for Brendan in order
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‘ The Electrical Industries Charity ( EIC ) provides support for those desperately in need of a helping hand .’ |
to develop his skills and harness his talent and as a result , he was awarded a grant of £ 500 each term to help him pay for his books and other study equipment . The grant which the charity provided has helped Brendan to fulfil his dreams of becoming an engineer and create a brighter future .
Another example is Max ’ s story , where the charity joined forces with other companies and raised funds for a severely disabled six year old boy . Max was born prematurely at 26 weeks ’ gestation and , shortly after his first birthday , Max was diagnosed with Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy , Dystonia and Chronic Lung Disease , which left him wheelchair bound and unable to do anything himself . He cannot see or communicate with his family and loved ones . This young boy ’ s dad Mark , who has served 18 years in the electrical industry , and his mum Lisa are currently lifting Max everywhere in the house , including up the stairs . Max is getting very heavy to handle , and this has become a safety issue , and therefore the alteration to the house was needed to improve the quality of life for Max and his family .
Max ’ s parents , Mark and Lisa have been awarded a Disabled Facilities Grant of £ 30,000 for a full two storey extension to their home to enable a through floor lift to be built which will transport Max up to his bedroom and wet room . The total cost of the adaptation works , including the council fees , is over £ 80,000 and it is important to note that the Disabled Facilities Grant has not increased in line with inflation for many years . The council has offered a loan £ 10,000 , and Mark and Lisa will use their £ 10,000 savings . Other charities have also been contacted , and a further £ 4,000 has been secured . The Electrical Industries Charity has also contacted the Florence Nightingale Aid in Sickness Trust , and they have agreed to fund the cost of a ‘ Changing Stretcher ’, which is an essential piece of equipment . Although the family had a lot of financial support , they were still left with a £ 26,000 shortfall . The Electrical Industries Charity has agreed to meet a shortfall and help Max to have all the essential equipment that he requires as well as lifting a heavy burden and creating a brighter future for the whole family .
Brendan Moseley and Max are just two of many examples where the charity joined forces with industry professionals and created a better future for people in our industry . The charity always aims to make a significant contribution to improving lives for employees and their families , retired colleagues and apprentices , because it is never too late to help those desperately needing help .
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