Timber Trades' Benevolent Society

TTBS funds direct individual hardship relief for people in the UK timber trade and their families. Support includes regular quarterly allowances, winter fuel grants, seasonal payments such as Christmas and spring contributions, luxury hampers, and help with utility bills, phone costs, and TV licences. One-off grants are available for essential needs like white goods, respite care, and funeral costs. The charity prioritises low-income beneficiaries with limited savings who are facing illness, bereavement, retirement, or economic distress. Its focus is on the timber trade sector nationally, with no geographic restrictions.

Eligibility is limited to individuals only—TTBS does not fund organisations or charities. Applicants must be current or former employees of the UK timber trade, including importers, agents, merchants, sheet material importers, trussed rafter fabricators, and accredited timber preservation companies. Dependants, including widows and children, are also eligible. A qualifying period of significant service in the trade (typically ten years, or five in exceptional cases), UK residency, and proof of financial need are required. There are no income caps or religious restrictions.

TTBS does not fund organisations, charities, or groups of any kind. It also does not support activities or businesses outside the timber trade, such as joinery, furniture making, boat building, carpentry, or other non-trade entities. The charity is solely focused on individual hardship relief for those within the UK timber sector.

TTBS provides direct financial relief to individuals through regular quarterly allowances and one-off grants. Support is delivered via regional voluntary committees and based on case-by-case assessments with careful due diligence. The charity maintains personal ongoing contact with beneficiaries and aims to complement, rather than replace, state benefits.