PSA WELFARE AND BENEVOLENT FUND
Reg. Charity Number 1080524
PSA WELFARE AND BENEVOLENT FUND Known as Stagehand
Registered 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 2022.
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 working in the UK 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 to the fund. The Mental Health fund has been incorporated into the General fund with regular contributions to Music Support who provide mental health training to our clients.
Grants were still paid out to some claimants from the Covid 19 Crew Relief Fund that was created in 2020. The trustees judged these claims to have met the criteria for grants. The live events production business had returned to acceptable levels but some workers were still affected.
Trustees’ meetings were held regularly: monthly or more often as required, enabling us to react quickly to 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 work was carried out into how we might adapt to be relevant to our potential claimants in the light of possible changes to the live events sector.
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 react in such cases as the pandemic arise in the future.
Towards the end of the year, initiatives were conceived, and actions developed for 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. Equality in the treatment of all.
The Trustees- May 2023
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