PSAWELFARE AND BENEVOLENT FUND
Reg. Charity Number 1080524
PSAWELFARE AND BENEVOLENT FUND Known as Stagehand
Reg. charity number 1080524
List of Trustees: Michael Lowe - Chair, Andrew Lenthall, John Jones- Treasurer, Kelly Murray, David Lawrence, Martin Clowes and Christopher Coates
The objectives of the charity are: to relieve in cases of need, hardship or distressed persons who are or have been members of the Production Services Association, the widows, widowers and other dependants of such persons,
Annual Trustees’ Report 1[st] . January to 31[st] . December 2021.
The fund is run and managed by the trustees all of whom are volunteers. Nobody draws a salary from the charity.
The fund was established in 1998 to support members of the Production Services Association (PSA) which is a membership trade body for people who work in the production of live events, concerts, and tours. In 1998 a volunteer and the then general manager of the association obtained approval from the governing council of the association to set up a Welfare and Benevolent Fund. The fund was to provide members support in times of hardship and distress
this was duly set up and in May 2000 was registered as a charity with HM Charity Commissioners. Since 2020, Stagehand, has been offering assistance to all live events production workers in need and who meet grant criteria.
The Charity’s Achievements, performance fnancial review and signifcant events in the year
Our accounts for the period showed a continued flow of funds into both to the General fund and the Mental Health fund, this now being well-established (set up in 2017) and has been an increasing part of the charity’s focus. Monies were still paid out to claimants from the Covid 19 Crew Relief Fund that was created in 2020 who the trustees judged to have met the criteria for grants. The live events production business had been very slow to return to normal levels due to governmental restrictions on public gatherings in 2020. By the autumn of 2021 events/ business was beginning to return. Towards the end of the year (2021) the trustees had closed the formal ‘rounds’ of claims and grants but considered individual claims on a case-by-case basis.
Trustees’ meetings are held regularly: monthly or more often as required, enabling us to react quickly to any changing circumstances; to review and consider enquiries and requests for assistance; decide upon the actions to be taken which can be, for example, giving advice or making grants; to discuss ideas for and progress on fundraising activities; to discuss and make decisions on Stagehand’s support of Mental Health Awareness training within the sector.
The trustees were aware of an increase in the number of stress-related cases and worked with others to focus on the fund for Mental Health First Aid training (MHFA), the eventual target being to have one person on every tour or gig or event with a recognised qualification in Mental Health First Aid. We have worked and continue to work with other charities in our sector to bring this about including funding training for applicants to other organisations in our sector.
In the year a lot of work was put into how we might adapt to remain relevant to our potential claimants in the light of possible rapid changes to the live events sector.
We were also in discussions with another charity in the sector with a view to work together symbiotically or even a possible merger; however, after a lot of
work and soul searching the trustees decided it would be in the best interests of our potential clientele and dutiful to our funders and governing principles and more in keeping with Stagehand’s ethos to not be a part of a larger organisation thus running the risk of becoming lost in the crowd and risk losing focus, identity and purpose. We are and always have been successful because of our ability to react quickly to situations through working as a small, efficient team with the ability to make swift decisions to assist those in need. We remain in contact with other charities in our sector to be able to jointly act should such cases as the pandemic arise in the future.
Towards the end of the year, initiatives were conceived, and actions developed for 2022 fundraising to continue helping those at times of serious illness or injury.
Lastly the reporting to Charity Commission was delayed by the new Charity Commission website for reporting and delays in accessing the website.
Our Core values remain unaltered: To stay true to our mission, Fairness, Integrity, Discretion. Equity in the treatment of all.
The Trustees-June 2022
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