Most of us in the charity world are dreading the anticipated, forthcoming and seemingly inevitable, financial cutbacks in public expenditure.

A neighbour of mine, with a special needs child, is saying that she is rushing through requests for essential lifting equipment in her home before these facilities become unavailable. I have heard that my Social Services authority has been asked to make savings running into tens of millions of pounds.

And the evidence from applications we are receiving for help where any local authority is involved is that it is taking longer to get on the waiting list for help, the waiting time is longer and the amount of support you can expect to receive, for people with mobility difficulties in their own home, often leaves a funding gap between the amount granted and the cost of these essential works.

The impact on most charities during these difficult times is more applications for help requesting larger sized grants at a time when our income streams are under stress. EEIBA’s Council (governing body), mostly comprises people who are working in the electrical industries and their collective view is that the industries we serve are unlikely to see improving economic conditions until 2012.

The dilemma we face in the charity world is how to do more with less. In more than thirty years in the third sector, I cannot recall such difficult times. A fact borne out by so many of our established partners in other charities facing exactly the same sort of pressures, which means that their support is becoming restricted. The impact on our welfare grants budget can be imagined.

The situation is not all gloom and doom however. Rather like the national picture, much of our time is sent talking and debating about how best to achieve efficiencies and financial cutbacks. I don’t hear much about those measures we could and should take to grow the country’s business activities which, if this happens, would mitigate some of the anticipated financial cutbacks.

The same could be said for EEIBA in that reaching out with our awareness and understanding activities should not only ensure people in need know where to turn to but also give many who don’t know about EEIBA and what we do, an opportunity to help, however modestly.

Low value donations from a large number of people really can make a huge difference, which is why we are doing so much more this year to think about and develop our marketing activities, so as to position EEIBA in the hearts and minds of the vast majority of people connected with the electrical and electronics industries who do not at this time know about us or help us. Also, for many, this is the very time when they need their benevolent fund the most.

I am also encouraged by two recent conversations. The first was with someone connected to one of our Branches who was enthused by taking on board some of our fairly simple and basic steps, along an existing model which worked so well in the Midlands, which can strengthen fundraising activity in his part of the UK. The second is that the managing director of a company is encouraging his staff to do more for EEIBA for truly altruistic reasons, in helping the charity, but also because it makes economic sense for him and his business as this support will ensure his firm’s name is also more widely seen and known.

Daniel Finkelstein in a Times article (19 May) said: “Britain is, thankfully, an increasingly tolerant and socially liberal country. And people want the old, the sick and the vulnerable to be cared for. They don’t regard public spending cuts as a liberation, they are nervous of them and support public services.” He goes on to say: “This is a Britain – moderate, socially liberal, economically liberal, tough minded – to which this new coalition speaks...” in talking about the new government.

I think he has a point. I believe EEIBA, and the people connected with EEIBA, in the circle which comprises of those on the governing body, staff, volunteers and supporters are moderate, socially and economically liberal but also tough minded.

With the times ahead, I’m convinced these tenets represent the correct approach to the next year or so.

What goes round comes around

Here is Walter’s story

In September 1953 following my return to Civvy Street from National Service in the RAF, I attended a meeting of the Midland Section of the Electrical Wholesalers Federation at the Queen’s Hotel, Birmingham and – as the new boy on the block – I was appointed EEIBA Collector and I have been connected with them to this day.

Besides collecting from the delegates at each meeting it was part of my responsibility to encourage companies to range for their staff to make regular weekly or monthly deductions from their wage packets in support of their industry charity. In addition through my connections with bodies like the Birmingham Electric Club and the ASEE Birmingham Branch, I found myself helping to organise social gatherings such as Annual Dinners and Ladies Evenings where quite substantial sums of money were raised from raffles, tombolas, etc which, I like to hope contributed consistently to EEIBA and helped it to help individuals in need.

At that time, there was one residential home – Broome Park – in Surrey which provided loving and caring accommodation for people from any part of the electrical industry needing rest and recuperation.

Over the years, the massive support from the major players in the industry like CEGB, Electricity Council, the GEC, English Electric, Ferranti etc, etc, enabled EEIBA to build other facilities.

In the 1980s, my father – then in his nineties – spent a very happy recuperation after his hospitalisation in one of EEIBA’s homes. EEIBA’s President at that time was Denys Johnson and he and I became good friends bumping into one another regularly at fundraising events in London and throughout the country.

With the break-up of the publicly-owned electricity generating concerns and the disappearance, one by one, of the ‘giants’ of the industry, income started to fall and, at the same time, the perceived needs changed and the emphasis switched to financial assistance in the home – not necessarily for medical help – so these residential centres were disposed of, one by one.

Financial help continued to come from the electricity boards, from companies like the Weir Group, from organisations like the Institution of Electrical Engineers and ELECTREX, the major electrical trade exhibition in the world, which continues to this day (for which – as a former Chairman – I am truly delighted). But the ongoing changes within the industry appear to have lost the “family feel” of days gone by, in my view. I know it is becoming harder and harder to maintain the funding at the level needed, despite the ever increasing calls for help.

Following an unfortunate episode, a company of which I was chairman, connected with the mobile phone industry, was forced out of business causing me to lose many tens of thousands of pounds, whilst the onset of the recession in 2008 lead to the termination of four of the five consultancies I had built up over the last 30 years. I was left with only 25% of my income and in trouble and who came to my rescue? Yes, you’re right – EEIBA. So, here I am thankfully in receipt of funds that have kept me going in my search for a new position where age and experience is regarded as as asset rather than a liability.

They say that what goes around comes round and it will soon be 60 years that EEIBA and I have been together during which I have gone from one extreme to another. The wheel has indeed turned full circle!

Walter Balmford
April 2010

Out of the blue, on a dreary day in London, two bits of good news arrived at my door.

Seven trade press colleagues, with event support from another, are to undertake the Three Peaks Challenge on 8, 9 May. They will climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours, walking more than 25 miles and climbing in excess of 10,000 feet. With the proceeds of their efforts coming to EEIBA. Have a look at their website: www.justgiving.com/eeiba3peaks Some are known for undertaking this sort of challenge, but not all. They are all stars!

And then we had a cheque in from WF Electrical, donating the proceeds of a business promotion scheme where their customers agreed to give rewards points to us. Some more stars!

The day seemed to have a bit more shine after all!

Our calendar of events around the country is so important not just as valuable income streams, which they are, but also as a reminder too about EEIBA’s charitable activities.

The autumn and winter season of fundraising dinner dances and other events is now well under way. The season started with our long established Yorkshire Ridings Branch holding their “bit of a do”, in reality a prestigious black tie dinner dance, at the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate. Our Gloucester Branch’s Ball was well received at the Tortworth Court Four Pillars hotel on 13 November, with the Northern Ireland Branch Electric Ball coming up on 27 November. The Midlands Branch Christmas Party and our friends at the 12 Electric Club in Kent will be raising funds for EEIBA during December.

Our friends and volunteers in Scotland go in for the most spectacular Christmas Lunches with (hopefully) more than 1,000 guests at the two events in Glasgow and Edinburgh and a new lunch in Aberdeen as well. Sussex Branch is not to be outdone with no less than three Christmas Lunches in Brighton, Eastbourne and Crawley. And, Yorkshire Ridings Branch Christmas Lunch is also a firm favourite in the calendar (see the calendar of events on the website for details).

It is just amazing how our heritage of these events is supported so well, thanks to the volunteers in the Branches who put their body and soul into making it all happen.

powerBall, in the Great Room at London’s Grosvenor House, also went very well, with the industry getting behind the charity, giving their support and using this, and all our other events, as a way of entertaining their customers, clients and associates. Numbers were 200 or so down on the 2008 event with fewer premium tables and less in income from sponsorship, reflecting the difficult times during which we are living. However, net proceeds at some £225,000 were a fantastic result.

I am well aware that not everyone can attend black tie dinners, golf days, fishing competitions and all the other ways in which we try to raise money from events. This is why we are so keen to promote and develop our individual giving programmes, such as Power Lottery, company specific power draws, becoming a Senator and remembering EEIBA in your Will as a means of involving and giving everyone an opportunity to give and to know more.