BSAP Trust UK
Maj-General Sir A H M Edwards
Founder and First President of Old Comrades Association and UK Branch
Benevolence – the prime object of the The Old Comrades Association founded in 1913 the brainchild of the then Commissioner – Maj-General Edwards, and its successor the BSAP Regimental Association founded in 1926.
Direct Donations
For direct donations you can use the Donation Box below. Or a direct bank transfer via the details provided:
Bank: Santander
Name: B S A P Trust
Sort: 09-01-53
ACC: 23405487
The main reason the Association was formed over a century ago was “……Above all, the subscriptions, which even if limited to 6d a month per member, would form the nucleus of a Benevolent Fund, which is much needed, by means of which help can be given in deserving cases.”
Today, the UK Branch of the Association continues this benevolent work through its Almoner Service and the BSAP Trust, a registered charity. Since its inception the Trust has disbursed grants totalling thousands of pounds to members of the UK Branch.
The BSAP came to an end in 1980 but membership of the Regimental Association increased rapidly. The UK Branch committee realised that if the UK Branch was to continue to provide its expanding membership with the objects for which had been established, particularly benevolence, proper arrangements had to be made.
The committee also had the foresight to see the Zimbabwe Government would renege on its promise to continue to pay pensions which would result in considerable hardship to many of the Branch members.
Accordingly three members of the committee, the founders shown below, in 1987 drafted and executed a Deed of Trust setting up the BSAP Trust with the purpose:
“To provide assistance and support to members of the United Kingdom Branch of the British South Africa Police Regimental Association and their dependants who are distressed by sickness or poverty.”
the founders becoming the initial Trustees.
Founders of the BSAP Trust
Tim Weimer 4158
Mike Leach 5479
Fred Mason 5934
The deed has subsequently been amended by the following addition:
“That the provision of assistance and support will be to those members of the UK Branch and dependants who are normally resident in the United Kingdom”
Since its inception the Trust has disbursed many thousands of pounds to members ‘in distress’
The Trust is registered as a charity with the UK Charity Commission allowing it to reclaim ‘Gift Aid’ tax from HMRC in respect of eligible UK taxpayers and is subject to the supervision of the Charity Commissioners.
It is a separate entity with its own bank accounts and is independent from the UK Branch of the Association.
The UK Branch company’s articles of association provide that the committee shall refer all cases of distress and hardship involving branch members, their spouses and families to the Trustees for appropriate consideration and action.
This is to ensure that strict confidentiality is maintained for all cases.
Financial assistance is usually provided by way of a grant that does not have to be repaid. Additional assistance is provided for debt reduction, bereavement advice and other matters that may concern members.
The initial point of contact for assistance is the UK Branch Almoner Service who on learning of a member who may be in need will initiate contact with that member and after consulting with the other Trustees will provide the appropriate assistance. The Almoner maintains contact with members who have been supported.
The Trust was initially funded by UK Branch members who ‘covenanted’ their annual subscriptions to the Trust but since the withdrawal of that provision it is now mainly reliant for income from donations and investment income.