The TRA is proud to support the Timber Trades Benevolent Society (TTBS), which helps the retired and less fortunate in the timber industry.
A registered charity, the TTBS has been operating throughout the UK since 1897 from a central UK office based in Staffordshire and voluntary regional committees covering London and the Home Counties, East Anglia, Wessex (Hants and Dorset), Bristol and Western Counties, South Wales, the Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside, the North West, the North East and Cumbria and Scotland.
The Society is an active member of the Association of Charitable Organisations (ACO), the national umbrella body for trusts and foundations that give grants and welfare support to individuals in need.
The Society is funded by annual dividends from a well-managed investment portfolio, which provide a calendar of social events for the timber trade throughout the year. Also, national and regional fundraising activities, donations from companies and individuals connected to the timber trade and some extremely generous legacies from former members.
The TTBS not only assists aged and retired timber trade members and their dependents, but also some much younger workers who have fallen ill, have become severely handicapped or who have lost their partners and are still caring for their children.
The TTBS covers companies engaged in the trading and distribution of wood-based products, such as timber importers and agencies, timber merchants, timber-based sheet material importers and merchants and TRA manufacturer member companies and accredited timber preservative processing companies whose employees are involved with the treatment of bulk timbers.
All TTBS benefits are discretionary charitable payments, which can be reviewed or revised by the Trustees at any time and as such, should not normally affect any other entitlement to benefits provided by the State.
TTBS benefits are numerous, but include regular quarterly allowances, phone rental allowances, TV licence payments, a Winter Warmer fuel grant, Christmas and spring payments, luxury Christmas hampers and occasional respite and funeral grants, together with one-off purchases of white goods and televisions.
The TTBS welcomes new applications from timber trade employees who have been employed in the industry for at least 10 years (or 5 years in exceptional circumstances) who require assistance. Applications are then referred to the Regional Committee closest to the applicant’s home address and employment and a visit arranged by the local representative to discuss specific needs. The Regional Committee makes benefit recommendations to the TTBS General Manager, which are then considered by the Trustees and Board of Management.
For further information or an application please contact Ivan Savage, TTBS General Manager, at Masons Croft, 19 Church Lane, Oulton, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8UL. Telephone 08448 92 22 05 or email info@ttbs.org.uk
Registered Charity No 207734
