Thanks to you, civil servants never have to cope alone.
Civil servant Graham, told us
Having our own charity really does make a difference. Behind every stat is a real person, a real family and a real story and that’s why I want to support my Civil Service community.
(Graham, Home Office)
Hear from the people you’ve helped
David's story
When David was diagnosed with a painful degenerative condition, it made his active job increasingly difficult.
“I was told that I would eventually be unable to walk and that felt like a punch in the face.”
David and his wife, who is also a civil servant, reached out to the Charity and we listened. We looked at the whole picture and found that we were able to provide financial support in addition to caring advice for David, enabling the family to live happier, more fulfilling lives.
“It gave us the headspace we were looking for. We were blown away by the whole thing.”
David is now a volunteer for the Charity. He does all he can to remind people that they’re not alone.
“When someone is going through a tough time and you show them there’s light at the end of the tunnel, you really feel like you’ve done something for someone … It’s about real community spirit.”*
David (HMRC)
*Some elements of this story have been anonymised or changed to protect the person’s identity
thank you for making a difference
Connie's story
Connie went through a dark time when a relationship breakdown led to financial problems and homelessness. Forced to sofa surf with different family and friends, Connie ended up having a breakdown and needed to take time off work. Connie gave us a call. We listened and provided financial support in her time of need.
“The people in the Help Team made me feel like a person again. Not a failure, not someone to be judged, just a person … that was mind-blowing at the time.”
The financial support meant that Connie and her kids could finally move into a home they could call their own.
“Donations to this Charity are like ripples in a pond, they go far and wide. You can be a stone in the water and impact so many people’s lives. These are real lives we’re talking about, lives like mine and my children.”
Connie (Department for Education)
A gift of £25 could pay towards travel costs to visit a family member in hospital.
Fantastic fundraisers
Nathan (HMRC)
Nathan couldn’t take part in Mega Miles Challenge 2023 so he organised his own walk with colleagues over four weeks in September and October. Covering almost 1,000 miles, the group raised nearly £1k!
Brenda (MOJ)
Brenda has been organising a Snack Box initiative for many years, with all proceeds going to the Charity. She raised an amazing total of £1,648 in 2023!
Brenda said “We are glad to help out the Charity especially in these difficult times … Most of my colleagues and staff who work at CNBC all have contributed by purchasing items from the Snack Box.”
Ruth (HMRC)
Ruth organised a Festive Jumper Day at her workplace with her colleagues at Unity Square Nottingham BEC Team, HMRC. Thank you Ruth!
Ruth told us “My regional centre in Nottingham was more than happy to support fundraising for Charity for Civil Servants as we all agree it is a vital charity that helps and supports us all.”
Other highlights in 2023
Civil Service Live
Staff at the Charity had a fantastic time meeting civil servants at Civil Service Live 2023 and learning more about what community means to you.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference
7,454 of you joined us for our Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference in 2023, hosted in partnership with Government People Group.
Meet our chair, Peter Schofield
Peter Schofield became Permanent Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions in January 2018, following roles at the Department for Communities and Local Government and HM Treasury. It’s this breadth of experience, as well as a strong commitment to public service, that Peter brings to his role as Chair for Charity for Civil Servants.
Having led the largest department in Government through the pandemic and being the Operational Delivery Profession lead across Government, Peter is keen to emphasise his support for colleagues across the Civil Service who he sees as unsung heroes. Alongside his strong professional experience, Peter is also acutely aware of how life can quickly change, following his diagnosis of Parkinson’s in April 2020 at the height of the first lockdown.
“I don’t want people, when they get a diagnosis like the one I’ve had, to have a sense that you can’t carry on doing a job. It is something you’ll have forever and it will get worse, but it can be managed.”
Peter’s experience underpins his strong belief in the need to provide support and a safety net to those who provide critical services for the public and Ministers.
Peter tells us
One of the many things we can take pride in as a Civil Service community is how we look after each other and how often our colleagues become friends and sources of support. Charity for Civil Servants is our charity, it is there for everyone. I would encourage all civil servants to find out more about the umbrella of support it can provide and to help make sure those services can continue to be provided through donations, fundraising and driving awareness. Thank you.
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