TRUSTEES REPORT DECEMBER 2022

Another challenging year for everyone has now come to an end, with prospects for more of the same in 2023. However, whatever the future holds within the paper and board industry, the presence of PICT as a charitable support vehicle will be maintained.

As you may have already seen within your own organisation, PICT has now embarked on a major communication programme, designed to convey the PICT Charity message to all levels and all departments in paper and board related companies.

We regard increasing the awareness of PICT as our immediate objective, and we are actively encouraging Company Senior Managers and HR Departments to spread the PICT message as widely as possible.

As you will know from our previous bulletins, PICT has provided specific assistance in a variety of cases over the last few years, and we firmly intend to continue that assistance. Please remember that a wide scope of help can be obtained from PICT, and as always, any approach to us is treated with complete confidentiality assured.  

Our thanks to all PICT members and friends for staying with us during 2022. May we take this opportunity to wish you all a prosperous 2023.

Best wishes

From The Trustees of PICT

TRUSTEES REPORT 2022

A difficult two year period for everyone has now eased to some extent, as we learn to live with a new normal. Inevitably though, there will be more challenges ahead.

However, whatever the future holds within the paper and board industry, the presence of PICT as a charitable support vehicle will be maintained.

In our last Newsletter, we re-stated our purpose and our determination to support our industry colleagues. We also gave reminders of some of the specific assistance that PICT has provided over the last few years. We would urge everyone to absorb this information, in order to be fully aware of the scope of help that may be obtained from PICT.

That Newsletter also included contact details for addressing a Charity request to PICT. Let us re-state our firm promise that any approach to us shall be treated in complete confidentiality.

Our thanks to all PICT members and friends for staying with us during the last two years.

Let us all hope that things will be more stable throughout the remainder of 2022.

From the Trustees of PICT

TRUSTEES REPORT 2022

A difficult two year period for everyone is now gradually easing, as we learn to live with a new normal. Inevitably though, there will be more challenges ahead.

However, whatever the future holds within the paper and board industry, the presence of PICT as a charitable support vehicle will be maintained.

In our latest Newsletter, we re-stated our purpose and our determination to support our industry colleagues. We also gave reminders of some of the specific assistance that PICT has provided over the last few years. We would urge everyone to absorb this information, in order to be fully aware of the scope of help that may be obtained from PICT.

The Newsletter also included contact details for addressing a Charity request to PICT. Let us re-state our firm promise that any approach to us shall be treated in complete confidentiality.  

Our thanks to all PICT members and friends for staying with us during the last two years. 

Let us all hope that things will be more stable throughout 2022.

From The Trustees of PICT.

TRUSTEES REPORT 2021

Another difficult year for everyone is now coming to an end, with prospects for more challenges ahead.

However, whatever the future holds within the paper and board industry, the presence of PICT as a charitable support vehicle will be maintained.

Elsewhere in this Newsletter, we have re-stated our purpose and our determination to support our industry colleagues. We have also given reminders of some of the specific assistance that PICT has provided over the last few years. We would urge everyone to absorb this information, in order to be fully aware of the scope of help that may be obtained from PICT.  

Our thanks to all PICT members and friends for staying with us during 2021. May we take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Let us all hope that things will be more stable in 2022.

Best wishes

From The Trustees of PICT.

TRUSTEES REPORT 2019

Since our last report, even though there has not been a dramatic increase in requests for charitable assistance, it is pleasing to record that two new donations have been awarded.

One, if not both of these will be featured in the forthcoming PICT Newsletter Number 26, in our case study section. As before, confidentiality for the individual(s) in question shall be maintained.

During the remaining on site visits to PICT supporters, we shall continue to promote the objectives of the Trust, and encourage our members to spread that message amongst their colleagues.

Additionally, there are also some new promotional initiative plans, which will be developed leading up to, and at, the 2020 PICT Annual Lunch.

The task remains challenging, but it is gratifying that we have been able to contribute an increase in charity monies paid out so far this year.

TRUSTEES REPORT 2018

Our numbers of new approaches or applications for charitable assistance have been disappointing during 2018/19. This highlights our need to reinforce the charity message through our membership and events.

Where we have had requests, often they are from other charities, most predominantly military charities, and of course in these cases, the paper industry validity of the individual case has to be carefully scrutinized.

We are currently maintaining two regular payments to qualifying individuals. Although the amounts paid are modest, these cases are continually subject to review.

In the most recent PICT magazine, we included a case study which gave brief details of specific charity assistance which PICT provided for an individual. This case was featured in order to demonstrate an example of the help that can be given, and to further stimulate the search for additional requests. Naturally, to conform to our strict confidentiality guidelines, in the article the recipient remained anonymous.

It is hoped that the entire PICT membership will continue to remind any colleagues in need, past or present, about the charitable purpose of PICT, and how we could potentially be of some help.

TRUSTEES REPORT 2017

Again this year we have been able to support a number of deserving causes.

It would be fair to say though that we have not been flooded with requests and again via yourselves and I am sure within the Presidents speech we do ask for your help to spread the word of the very valuable support our charity can provide.

We continue to thoroughly vet all requests and to date we have been able to provide assistance to the vast majority.

We do have to be careful though as we have received a few cases via other charities where the individual concerned at some time has worked -

within the paper trade but perhaps has not done so for many years. In these instances and where approved we calculate the amount we are prepared to pay by means of a fixed yearly rate that we multiply by the number of years worked.

Historically we have had a few cases where we have annually provided funds, moving forward this practice will cease and we will now only support on a one off basis.

Finally without your support we could not help our paper trade colleagues who fall on difficult times, we really appreciate that.

TRUSTEES REPORT 2016

Since our last report we have continued to support a number of deserving causes. A number of these requests come from other charities, which are helping people who have spent a number of years in the paper trade and are seeking our assistance. Obviously we look in detail to the circumstances surrounding any such case, but if approved we find ourselves, along with the Charity initially involved, being a significant help to people in severe need.

The majority of the requests we receive, however, come direct from you or one of your colleagues, and once again we would encourage you to advise us should you learn of anyone you feel you would like to be considered.

In the first instance, please direct any correspondence to our Secretary Anne James and as always we do assure you of total confidentiality.

TRUSTEES REPORT 2015

This year we have continued to support a number of long standing family situations.

We do and will continue to review and monitor all on-going cases to ensure that the support we provide is going to circumstances of need and are not viewed as additional pensions

We are pleased, if indeed pleased is the correct word, to inform you that we have had a number of new requests from deserving cases of which three we have been able to support. This support has consisted of either monetary awards or has found us purchasing such items as medical blankets, radios and in one of the cases a television.

Where the decision was not to support a case, this year without exception it has been due to the very tenuous link to the Paper Trade. We do remind all requestees that our charity is there to support paper related cases.

We have introduced during the course of the year a mechanism to ensure that we are treating all cases where a monetary consideration is provided in a consistent manner. This is simply a figure that is multiplied by the number of years worked in the paper trade.

We have paid out a similar amount to last year with the exception of a significant one off donation to the Stationers Livery Company. Finally we would like to encourage everybody to make their business colleagues and friends aware of the Charity's existence and purpose of helping deserving cases.