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BENEVOLENT FUND

At the GCMA, supporting our members – professionally and personally – is at the heart of what we do. The GCMA Benevolent Fund exists to offer financial assistance to members facing genuine hardship, as well as to the dependants of deceased members who may need support.

Following updates to the Fund’s constitution at the April 2025 AGM, the Fund is now more accessible and better positioned to help more members in times of need. While the Benevolent Fund has been part of the Association for many years, we know that not everyone is fully aware of what support is available. This page aims to change that.

What the Fund Can Support

The Benevolent Fund’s primary objective is the relief of hardship among distressed members of the Association and the dependants of deceased members. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, but in order to be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • You are unable to fully fund the request yourself.
  • The support requested is for something not normally provided by the state.
  • You have not received an award from the Fund in the past 12 months.
  • You have not had more than three successful applications in total.

Examples of Eligible Support

The Fund may consider applications for:

  • Essential household goods, such as furniture or items that support daily living.

  • Minor home alterations or repairs.

  • Disability aids or adaptations to support independence.

  • Specialist equipment for memory or dementia-related needs.

New: Counselling Support for Work-Related Stress

Following the AGM in April, the Fund may also now consider applications for counselling fees to support members experiencing work-related stress. This assistance is intended to aid your mental wellbeing and help you return to work with confidence and support.

How to Apply

Full details about the Benevolent Fund – including guidance notes, eligibility information, and the application form – can be found here.

APPLICATION GUIDANCE
APPLICATION FORM
BENEVOLENT FUND CONSTITUTION

We’re Here to Support You

A Members Association is built on the support, understanding, and camaraderie shared between colleagues. While that community spirit is invaluable, we recognise that there are times when financial help can make a meaningful difference.

If you are experiencing hardship, or know a member or dependant who may need assistance, please remember: the Benevolent Fund is here to help.

Join the GCMA today
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Allister Frost

A former Microsoft Digital Strategy leader who now inspires audiences to discover the life-enhancing benefits of having a Future Ready Mindset. As a tech pioneer, Allister gained unique insights into how to transform uncertainty into opportunity, and now loves giving others the positive mindset and simple habits needed to:

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With AI and robots coming for our jobs (hint from Allister: they won’t, if we know how…), many people are anxious about the future. But Allister asserts that we’ve nothing to fear when we leverage our human superpowers and ingenuity to thrive alongside emerging technologies. That’s why having a Future Ready Mindset is now a must-have skill to remain competitive and relevant to the people we serve, our golf club members and the local community. And the best bit: everyone can do it!

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John Steele

John Steele is a former professional athlete, sports coach, Olympic Leader and is the Executive Director of Sport at Loughborough University. He has been Chief Executive across a range of sectors. Drawing on leadership experience of nine different Olympic and Paralympic Games (including the amazing events at the Rio Games), John reflects on the lessons from this unique period in British sport and relays his fascinating views on creating high performing teams.

Indeed, inspired from PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, by the most successful performance ever for Team GB, he has a whole host of new business and leadership insights into how this was brilliant performance was achieved and how it can translate back into your organisation.

John moved into the corporate world, before he enjoyed an outstanding career as a professional rugby player achieving international honours. After his playing career, he turned his hand to coaching and achieved the highest accolade for a British club coach by winning the European Cup with Northampton Saints. He then became Executive Director on the Saints Board during a period of unprecedented growth, and served on the England Rugby Board during the successful world cup campaign of 2003. It was no surprise that John’s talents were called upon to drive through a change and modernisation programme as CEO of the Rugby Football Union – a challenge that became controversial and ended in his departure from the post after only a year, but with his dignity and professional pride intact.

Headhunted by UK Sport, John took up post as CEO the day before London won the 2012 Olympic bid – and this promising start was sustained as he embarked on developing the UK’s high performance sport system, which he led for a six-year period of unprecedented success through the Beijing and London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Post-London 2012, with the Olympic legacy in place and an obligation to continue inspiring a generation, John took up his post as Group Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust. He has also succeeded Steve Cram as Chairman of the English Institute of Sport, an organisation described as ‘the team behind the team’, which delivers a range of performance impacting solutions to over 40 Olympic and Paralympic sports and some non-Olympic sports.

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Dr Jo Salter MBE

Dr Jo Salter MBE is famed for becoming the first female fast jet pilot, having flown the Panavia Tornado ground attack aircraft during her services in the Royal Air Force. Joining the RAF aged 18, Jo has since taken Air Cadets into the skies as part of Air Experience Flights, become the Director of Global Transformative Leadership for PWC, and most recently become a Global Advisory of GenAI for PwC.

Jo has piloted flights in the Air Cadets Air Experience Flights and inspired countless budding armed service members to pioneer a male-dominated sector, having been the leader of an all-male squadron. Since leaving the military behind, Jo has established a strong business career working in roles such as Head of Technical Services for NetConnect, European Operations Manager for Automated Power Exchange and Managing Director of Saltin Ltd.

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Colin was also pivotal during the longest hostage siege on UK soil, when a hijacked Afghan plane landed in London in 2000. The standoff lasted four days with Colin as the first sniper on the scene.

After leaving the SAS, Colin exchanged insights with international forces such as Delta Force and Seal Team 6 and provided security consultancy to the Saudi Royal Family and various celebrities. His academic pursuits led him to earn a First Class MA (Hons.) in History from Edinburgh University and an M.Litt in Terrorism from St. Andrews University.

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