The Transport Benevolent Fund is backing the Station Staff of the Year Award at this year’s RailStaff Awards.
Says Tom O’Connor, managing director of the Rail Media Group, which is organising the RailStaff Awards, ‘The Transport Benevolent Fund is an essential part of the railway community. Membership has increased and now stands at 40,000. I am delighted to welcome the TBF back to this year’s RailStaff Awards.
‘Despite the Beeching effect on railway stations – over 2000 of them were shut down – we now see new stations opening up and more being expanded. The people who staff our stations are among the hardest working in the industry.
‘For many passengers their first point of contact with the railway is through staff at stations. These quiet heroes are the ambassadors of the industry and deserve much wider recognition. The TBF is a charity which has been there for many years helping the same people and their families.’
A registered charity
The Transport Benevolent Fund (TBF) is a registered charity and offers a wide range of benefits including health, legal advice, convalescence and cash help to its members and their dependants.
The TBF is run by Trustees who understand the industry and the needs of staff. TBF is here to support those who work in the public transport industry when they are in need, hardship or distress. Almost anyone who works in the industry may join TBF.
If you are a member of the TBF, you may choose to continue your membership in retirement. It is not possible to join once you have retired. Contributions to the TBF are £1 a week. Please contact TBF for more details. When you die your family will normally continue to be treated as dependants in accordance with the TBF rules.
Says Chris Godbold, the Fund’s Development Director, ‘Stations and their improvements are very much in the news currently. Many of our members have been involved in, or started their career at, a railway station.
TBF exists to help all people in the railway industry. We are pleased to be involved in the RailStaff Awards and to help celebrate the achievements of ordinary men and women who make this such a great industry.’
The Transport Benevolent Fund was originally established to help families of London public transport workers serving in the First World War. A permanent trust was set up in 1923.
TBF has been helping public transport workers for nearly 90 years. In recent years TBF has shown extensive growth nationally and now has over 40,000 members throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
