If your issue can’t be fully resolved via the helpline advisor and involves a litigation dispute, you’ll be referred to a legal solicitor who will assess your case and outline a plan of action.

In some cases, the solicitor may assist you in completing an application to gain a voluntary donation. Applications are reviewed and decided by the Fed’s benefits committee comprising of fellow members.

Grants of up to £600 in any 5-year period for members who are suffering from a serious illness (this is not an income protection scheme).

Qualification:

One year’s membership. Full members, Full partner and Full multiple, and Affiliate members are eligible.

Serious Illness benefit is paid at the sole discretion of the Benefits Committee in cases of significant and long-term, life changing or life threatening illness.

To make a claim for Serious Illness Benefit, we require the member to complete the Serious Illness Benefit application form and attach the relevant supplementary evidence within three months of the serious illness diagnosis.

Application for Serious Illness Benefit.

Apply Online and attach your applications & supporting documents. Send your application to benefits@nfrn.org.uk

Personal accident benefit for news deliverers

Death – £2,000

Loss of hand, foot, limb, eye or permanent incapacity  – £1,000

For newspaper deliverers of 13 years of age or over according to the individual by-laws in their area.

This benefit is applicable to accidents occurring when employed as a news deliverer on foot or by bicycle, but does not apply to accidents occurring from the use of motorised transport.

Claims must be made in writing to the Fed’s head office within six weeks of the occurrence of the injury and, in the case of death, must be accompanied by a death certificate and a letter of authority from the member, authorising the benefits department to deal with the matter on his/her behalf and to make payment to the deliverer’s legal representative.

Accidents occurring in other circumstances, or when the news deliverer diverts from the direct route to or from his/her place of residence, will not be payable under this benefit but will be submitted to the National Trustees for consideration.

For the bereavement benefit we need the actual death cert and have to send the letter to the nominee who we have on file so that will have to remain postal.

Ratcliffe Fund

For members who have fallen on hard times and require emergency support.

e.g. experienced a flood and waiting for an insurance claim to come through.

The Ratcliffe Fund can award someone that is physically attacked and injured only, and at the discretion of the benefits committee.

Carl Bridgewater Fund

The Carl Bridgewater Memorial Fund was established in the memory of Carl Bridgewater, a newsboy of Wordsley, Nr Stourbridge in Worcestershire, who was murdered in September of 1978 whilst on his news delivery round.

The charity helps news deliverers throughout the country including those that do not work for Federation members.

The purpose of the fund is to provide assistance for news deliverers who have the misfortune to suffer injury or harm as a result of the service they provide to the community; or alternatively, perform acts of meritorious service either to the community at large or to a person in need.

The fund’s awards committee is willing to consider applications by members in respect of their news deliverers who might be eligible for an award from this fund.

1. Empowering young people

Carl Bridgewater covers Empowering Young People where if you employ news deliverers or young shop staff (16 to 25), you can use this fund to support and develop their skills in the following areas:

Education including: 

• • Funding online training for retail staff – building confidence & knowledge to be able to help run stores
  • Helping employees with equipment to be able to do courses online 
  • Family and welfare
  • Health
  • Sports 
  • Culture and leisure
  • Charity expeditions at home or abroad

Criteria:

To benefit from funding of up to £1,000 for the chosen activity, applicants are required to:

• • Detail the activity they intend to pursue. Demonstrate the impact and outcome the funding will achieve
  • Provide confirmation letters and invoices from the company providing the activity
  • Be an employee of a member of the Fed
  • Provide a letter of recommendation from the member of the Fed along with their membership number
  • Submit a completed application form with supporting costs.
    Click here for the application form

2. Stolen/damaged bicycle & acts of bravery

The fund can pay up to £250 towards the replacement or repair of bicycles stolen or damaged, whilst carrying out their duties or an award can be granted at the benefits committee’s discretion for bravery have suffered injury or harm as a result of the service they provide.

Criteria

To apply for the fund, download and submit the application form.

Please provide:

• • Date of the incident
  • Name of member
  • Name of the deliverer
  • Crime reference number
  • Bank account details of the account of where any award payments can be transferred to
  • Details of what happened.

For more information or to apply for the fund, please email benefits@nfrn.org.uk with the above criteria.

Hardship Fund

A discretionary payment of up to £1,000 to any member (or member’s spouse/partner) in membership for a minimum of 1 year who is in extreme difficulty following the death of their spouse/ partner.

Such funds will be released from the NFRN Benefits Fund subject to agreement by the National Trustees and in line with any relevant HMRC guidelines regarding provident benefits.

Bereavement benefit

All members, upon joining the Federation, must complete a Declaration of Membership Form, nominating the person to whom the bereavement benefit, should be paid.

Bereavement benefit is payable to any member having held membership of the Federation for a minimum of one year.

(i) Full Bereavement Benefit – £2,000

Full Bereavement Benefit is payable except in the circumstances described at (ii) below.

(ii) Half Bereavement Benefit – £1,000

Any members joining over the age of 70 will not be eligible.

Please email benefits@nfrn.org.uk for eligibility and an application form.

News Deliverers Fund

The News Deliverers Fund may award discretionary payments to bona fide
news deliverers, who are employed by members of the Federation, who
sustain serious injuries or become incapacitated.

All claims on the Fund should be made to the benefits department and must
be supported by a medical report or medical certificate. The admission or
amount of any award to be at the sole discretion of the fund’s trustees. The
fund shall receive its income from the National General Fund.

Convalescence Fund

A grant of up to a maximum of £1,000 in any 5 year period (T&Cs apply)

Qualification: One year’s membership

This charity is administered by the NFRN Convalescence Trustees and applications can be made from a member affected by a prolonged and serious medical condition which has resulted in hardship and the need for convalescence and/or respite care.

To make a claim, use the Convalescence and Respite application form, available through the benefits department at head office.

Half Convalescence & Respite Benefit – Members joining over the age of 60 years.

Fill in the form for the Convalescence fund.