What is the Guild of Benevolence?

The Guild of Benevolence is a charity supporting those in need within the marine community and their dependents worldwide.

We provide assistance that is uniquely tailored to each hardship case that is brought in front of our committee, including:

  • Making regular grants to supplement a very low income

  • Helping with shortfalls in reasonable nursing home fees 

  • Making single lump sum grants to assist in the purchase of costly items that are essential for the recipient’s wellbeing 

  • Assisting with the cost of essential home repairs, costs of respite care and debt relief

  • Assisting with essential and reasonable funeral expenses in excess of any state contribution

 

Apply for financial assistance

We want to reach those who need our help as quickly as possible, while making it as straightforward as possible.

Apply

 

Make a donation

The Guild of Benevolence relies on the kindness of people like you - make a donation today to ensure our work can continue.

Donate

 

Join the Guild

By becoming a member of the Guild of Benevolence, you'll be supporting our vital work within the marine community.

Join

 

How is the Guild funded?

Individuals can become members of the Guild and pay a monthly or annual donation. Donations are also received from IMarEST members and branches throughout the world and from companies associated with the marine industry.

The Guild also sustains a regular income through a diversified investment portfolio and is occasionally the beneficiary of a legacy in remembrance of a loved one.

Donate now

Users with a web account can donate with this button to add 25p from Gift Aid to their donation at no extra cost.

Giving by legacy

Pecuniary

This is a simple form of legacy giving a specified amount of money to a named individual or organisation and is easy to administer. However, it does have the drawback in that inflation will reduce the monetary value of such a legacy.

Residuary

This involves leaving all or part of the net residue of an estate after all pecuniary legacy, debts, fees and other charges have been met. Therefore, there is no requirement to quantify the amount to be left or to take into account the effect of inflation.

Conditional

This is suitable for those who would not otherwise wish to bequeath any of their estate to the Guild. It provides an alternative to an estate going to the Crown in the event that none of the named dependents or other beneficiaries survives the deceased. In this event the entire estate would be given over to the Guild as the ultimate beneficiary.

Specific

If a person is a beneficiary under a Will, all or part of the inheritance may be transferred to the Guild by means of a ‘Deed of Variation’.

Amounts transferred in this manner are free from inheritance tax, thus giving the Guild the opportunity of benefitting during that persons lifetime.

What next?

Decide which type of the above gifts you would like to leave for the Guild and consult with your chosen Solicitor. You must arrange for your Solicitor or friends or family to act as executors of your estate. 

Complete the Legacy Pledge Form and send it to the Guild. You can scan and email this to [email protected] or post it to:

The Honorary Secretary

Guild of Benevolence of the IMarEST

1 Birdcage Walk

London, SW1H 9JJ

United Kingdom

 

Who qualifies for help?

  • Any individual professionally engaged, now or in the past, in the marine sector as an engineer, scientist or technologist at a level eligible for IMarEST membership as a Fellow, Member or Associate
  • Marine and electrical engineers, mercantile or naval, who possess or have possessed Certificates of Competency or Service issued by the relevant governmental administrations, or equivalent qualifications
  • Marine engineers who possess or have possessed STCW Convention equivalent Class 1 or Class 2 Certificates of Competency issued by an IMO-recognised national maritime authority or Certificate of Competency issuing agency
  • Past and present members or employees of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) or of the Guild of Benevolence
  • Wives, husbands, partners, widows, widowers, dependent children or other dependent relatives of any person qualifying under any of the above categories

The Committee has sole discretion to decide who is eligible for relief and whether or not they are covered by the above descriptions.