BBS In The Community

How We Help & Engage With The British Community

In 2019 the British Benevolent Society commenced an awareness initiative to promote the BBS, its mission and improve engagement with the British community across the West Coast. Originally, the focus was increasing awareness of the charity for those in need and Brits who may want to become involved. Efforts to spread awareness have significantly increased this year in order to connect with Brits who have been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Please take a moment to watch the following short video message about the BBS. Be sure to share it with your friends and family to help us with our key objective of raising awareness.

Relief: Coronavirus Grant Program

The Relief Committee continues to receive daily applications to the dedicated BBS Coronavirus Grant Program. The BBS has approved 15 Covid 19 Grants and distributed over $35,000 since the lockdown began. As well, we continue to receive non-civid related requests for assistance and are assessing and supporting applicable cases.

As a reminder, the Coronavirus Grant Program is a resource available to British nationals facing a loss of income due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis. Any British national who has experienced a loss of income due to the Coronavirus is eligible to apply. After going through the assessment process, recipients of the Coronavirus Grant Program are eligible to request a onetime grant of $1,500.

During this time, donations to the BBS Covid 19 Relief Fund are very welcome. We are extremely grateful for the generous donations that we have received so far from individuals and organizations within the BBS community.

The British Weekly: Meet a Member Charles Cockerton

Los Angeles weekly newspaper the British Weekly kindly invited BBS President Charles Cockerton to be interviewed in their latest edition of “Meet a Member”!

Learn more about Charles and how he decided to make Northern California his home. A number of BBS Covid 19 Grants originated in Los Angeles. We are dedicated and delighted to be supporting individual Brits and British organizations throughout the West Coast.

BBS & Partner Events

Save the Date

28 May: BBS Virtual Happy Hour
The BBS will host a virtual Happy Hour later this month. Details will be shared in the next bulletin. We hope that if you are available that you will be able to attend!

Partner Events

21 May: Brits & Aussies In The Bay!
Our close friends at the BABC Northern California in San Francisco continues to organize virtual events and support the BBS.

Be sure to check out their calendar and register today! BBS Business Member Florin Pensions are one of the panelists on an upcoming joint BABC & AACC educational event. The webinar will have a great deal of topical and practical information for people right now. Topics being focused on will include: Immigration, International Tax, UK Pensions /Superannuation schemes and more!

International Nurses Day

Earlier this week marked International Nurses Day. The British Benevolent Society would like to take this opportunity to thank all nurses around the world for their dedicated efforts during this difficult time.

The Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Princess Royal and Countess of Wessex appeared in a lively montage of video calls, telling nurses: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Read More of the BBS In The Community Here