b'Member News July 2020 21Career supportA milestone for Foothold:IET benevolent fund marks 130 years of supporting engineers and their familiesIn 1890, a group of engineers decided that a fundAfter conducting another survey at the start of 2019, more member needs should be set up to help fellow engineers and theiremerged. Our members prioritised their mental and physical health above all, families in difficult times. Today, the organisation haswith considerable numbers also facing grown into a registered charity, working to ensure thatchallenges at work and at home. The task at hand: how to deliver the support people no engineer or their family has to face lifes challengesneeded in the ways they needed it? without support.One of Footholds new partners is Sleepstation, which provides support to help people improve their sleep. Thanks to the new partnership, our members and their families can now access a drug-free, clinically validated sleep improvement programme, treating conditions like insomnia. The service is delivered entirely online, adding to the list of digital support already available on Footholds new website, myfoothold.org, like wellbeing advice and legal fact sheets. Looking forward: whats next?Foothold has committed to a three-year strategy to improve the quality of life for the engineering community around the world. The plan aims to triple the number of With 168,000 current membersChanging face of support people being supported through of the IET and many previousA member survey in 2003 exposed thegrants, services and online advice.members spread across theneed for more than just financial support.One year into the term, Foothold is world, offering the right supportSo, Foothold developed other services,gathering pace. Financial support such as expert career coaching, careis being increased to match an in the most fitting way is aand disability support, and counsellingacceptable minimum income standard, priority.Foothold understandsgrants. This expansion in services enabledas set out by the Joseph Rowntree the changing needs of engineersthousands of our members to improve theirFoundation. The charity will also lives by accessing practical support thatincrease community involvement by and their families so continuesthey wouldnt have found anywhere else.developing more opportunities for to expand the support availablevolunteering through befriending, to the engineering communityThe changes didnt stop there. Overambassador and fundraising roles. As an the last 18 months, Foothold has forgedimportant tool in increasing the number worldwide. partnerships with expert charities andof people being supported, Foothold specialist organisations to ensure that theis also dedicated to an ongoing support network for our members andeffort of developing easily accessible their families is one they can rely on everydigital and innovative services.day, not just in a crisis. If you or your partner could use any practical, financial or emotional support, get in touch with Foothold on hello@myfoothold.orgor +44 (0)20 7344 5498 (9am - 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday).'