Earlier this year the Trustees began making changes to modernise and future-proof the BP Benevolent Fund, renaming it the “bp Helios Fund”, to strengthen and align its purpose to support former bp employees and their dependants.
Since its inception the bp Helios Fund has made grants totalling £406,849. The original capital of the Fund (£1 million in 1990) has grown to around £1.503 million. The total number of grants made is 370.
The support has included roof repairs, bathroom conversions, mobility scooters and support with car repairs.
The Fund has historically provided support for one-off costs for things such as hearing aids or medical expenses not covered by the NHS, basic home repairs and hardship grants to name a few.
With additional funding from bp, the bp Helios Fund will not only continue to provide financial assistance to those most in need, but will also be providing a one-off cost-of-living assistance grant (COLAG) for a specified period.
bp has provided additional funding to support the bp Helios Fund to be able to give a one-time, cost-of-living assistance grant of £2,500 for eligible bp pensioners. Provided you meet the eligibility criteria, the grant is non-taxable.
We hope everyone who is eligible will apply for the grant as it could make a meaningful difference to you and your family. Please note, only one application per household will be accepted.
The BP Benevolent Fund Trustee Ltd is responsible for your personal information and is registered at Chertsey Road, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex TW16 7BP. We will use the information you provide in the application form to determine if you are eligible for assistance. For more information on how we process your personal data, please see our privacy notice.
Eligibility:
You are eligible for this grant if you meet the following criteria:
Note: if you are a defined contribution (DC) member and/or receive your pension from Aegon, please see the separate tab for COLAG DC members.
How to apply
Applications for the cost-of-living assistance grant open on 1 December 2023 and close 31 March 2024. The application form can be found in the documentation tab.
You will need to provide some information to support your income statement on the application form:
If you cannot provide evidence of the above, please contact your PLO. Details for your PLO can be found here on PensionLine. The application form and photocopies or scans of supporting documents can be sent either by email to: bpheliosfund@colag.uk or posted to us using the enclosed pre-paid envelope to:
COLAG
PO Box 9557
Sherborne
DT9 9ER
If your application is approved, the cost-of-living assistance grant will be paid into the same bank account that your bp pension is paid into. bp is not responsible for how this grant may impact any means tested state benefits you may receive. If you are receiving means tested state benefits, you may want to check the point with the appropriate government department.
Note: this page is for those who are members of the BP DC pension scheme and/or receive pensions from Aegon.
bp has provided additional funding to support the bp Helios Fund to be able to give a one-time, cost-of-living assistance grant of £2,500 for eligible bp pensioners. Provided you meet the eligibility criteria, the grant is non-taxable.
We hope everyone who is eligible will apply for the grant as it could make a meaningful difference to you and your family. Please note, only one application per household will be accepted.
The BP Benevolent Fund Trustee Ltd is responsible for your personal information and is registered at Chertsey Road, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex TW16 7BP. We will use the information you provide in the application form to determine if you are eligible for assistance. For more information on how we process your personal data, please see our privacy notice.
You are eligible for this grant if you meet the following criteria:
Applications for the cost-of-living assistance grant open on 1 December 2023 and close 31 March 2024. The application form can be found in the documentation tab.
You will need to provide some information to support the income on the application form:
If you cannot provide evidence of the above, please use the general enquiries form for support.
The application form and photocopies or scans of supporting documents can be sent either by email to: bpheliosfund@colag.uk, or via post to:
COLAG
BP Benevolent Fund
BP ICBT, Building C
Chertsey Road
Sunbury on Thames
TW16 7LN
If you submit your application by email this will speed up the processing time. If you apply by post, please do not send any original documents. We cannot guarantee that these will be returned to you. If your application is approved, the cost-of-living assistance grant will be paid into the personal bank account that you provide. The bank account provided must be in your name.
bp is not responsible for how this grant may impact any means tested state benefits you may receive. If you are receiving means tested state benefits, you may want to check the point with the appropriate government department.
Whether you’ve got some unexpected home repairs and need a little financial help to tide you over or have some minor medical expenses, such as hearing aids, that cannot be met by the NHS, the bp Helios Fund is here to help you. Please don’t sit at home worried or alone. Help and support is just a phone call away.
All former bp UK employees and their dependants regardless of the length of bp service can apply. You do not need to be retired on a bp pension to apply for a standard grant.
Andy Clifford
Andy has been a Trustee since 2017. He has been employed at bp for just over 15 years, most recently as the of Head of Operations for the Sunbury team that provides administrative services for the BP Pension Fund.
David Richmond
David has been a Trustee since 2018 and a PLO for 11 years. Prior to retirement, David was employed at bp for 19 years in the North Sea Tax Team.
Frances Blois
Frances has been a PLO and later a Trustee since 1995. Prior to retirement, Frances joined Shell Mex and bp in Operational Research in 1971. In addition to working at bp, Frances was Lord Mayor of Westminster in 2002-2003 and since 2011, a Westminster Honorary Alderman. She was also a Master of the Worshipful Company of Firefighters 2019 – 2021, returning during the pandemic.
Glenda Hopkins-Burt
Glenda has been a PLO and Regional Co-Ordinator for the South-West and Trustee since 2003. Prior to retirement, Glenda was employed at bp in a variety of roles including Training Manager and HR Manager for Distribution, Manufacturing and Supply Divisions.
Ian Rushby (Chair of Trustees)
Ian joined bp in 1977 and held various executive and leadership positions, including CFO for BP Exploration, in London, the Netherlands, Indonesia, the United States and Russia. He was appointed Group Vice President and Group General Auditor of bp plc in 2001, reporting to the Group Chief Executive and the Main Board Audit Committee. He retired in 2008. Subsequently, Ian held non-executive positions at the Ministry of Defence and in a number of commercial and not-for-profit organisations.
Margaret Mercer
Margaret has been a PLO for over twenty years and is currently a Trustee. Prior to retirement, Margaret was employed at Amoco as an accountant and Auditor until the merger with bp in the late 1990’s. In addition to working at Amoco, Margaret was a Justice of the Peace in London and Somerset and for many years a Business Mentor for the Prince’s Trust.
Rob Hamer
Rob has been a Trustee since April 2023. He has been employed at bp for just over 5 years in a variety of different Reward roles, most recently as the Global Benefits Lead. Prior to bp, Rob undertook a number of senior Reward roles at Astra Zeneca.