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Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support Group -_:advice uK MEMBER
Pr _ 3/5 Fryer Street, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 1 ND
ASBESTOS VICTIMS Telephone: 01928 576641 Fax: 01928 576649
SUPPORT GROUP
email: cavsg@btconnect.com website: www.cavsg.co.uk HALTON
VAT No: 726 9383 01 Registered Charity No. 1042679
Chairperson Report 1st April 2006 to 31S` March 2007. '
This has been my first year as Chairperson for the Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support
Group and I am happy to say this has been a most effective year for us all, both the
volunteers and clients. This year we have assisted clients in obtaining over £3.5
million in compensatory benefits, assisted by the fact that we now have a paid full
time worker, someone well known to us all over the years, Mr. Brian Dellaway.
Brian s expertise and experience in the fight to assist our clients is second to none and
because of this, the post has enabled us to become fully involved in all local and
national issues, keeping up to date with legal events and exchanging information with
all parties engaged in supporting victims ofthis debilitating and lethal disease. The
post has enabled us to assist more clients, due to the increase in working hours. We
have an average of 10% per year increase in enquiries leading to successful claims,
we have also been involved in campaigning for proper treatment for Mesothelioma
sufferers with regard to NHS funding for Alimta.
We are a close knit and dedicated group and Brians efforts have taken pressure off the
routine work and generally speeded up the ongoing cases. The costs of employing a
full time worker have been absorbed into our general overheads and our beneficiaries
have shown their approval of this by continuing to support us, they see that Brian.s
work has complimented the volunteers work and not replaced it, and therefore
guaranteed our funding for a further twelve months.
Another cause for celebration during the year has been the replacement of our respite
caravan at New Pines Leisure Park in North Wales, for a superior and larger model
which will be a great asset for our clients giving much needed rest and relaxation at
this beautiful holiday complex. This has been brought about by generous donations
from Companies, Solicitors and Clients, a majority ofthe furnishings in the caravan
were most generously donated by the Management ofthe New Pines Caravan Park.
We are most grateful for this generosity as it is all part of our aims to assist clients to
cope with their illnesses.
We have also this year welcomed to our Panel of Solicitors, Anthony Coombs and
Poole Alcock bringing our clients a choice of six different companies of Solicitors,
all experts in the field of asbestos litigation.
I would like to mention that we are always ready to welcome anyone who may have a
little time to spare to join our volunteer group. Another important part is the
Management of the Group, therefore I would like to encourage any interested
w
members to consider joining our Management Committee. There are always
worthwhile tasks to be carried out that we would appreciate assistance with.
We look forward to the next twelve months of expanding and meeting the demands
of the clients and with this in mind we are at present engaged in applying for lottery
funding, this is a complicated and time consuming exercise but we feel we have a
strong claim to this national money.
I would like to thank all our sponsors, funders and those who have made generous
donations. We are particularly grateful to Halton Borough Council, who have despite
Government cutbacks, continued to give the same level of support to the Group.
As well as thanking everyone for coming here to-day I would like to thank the
committee and all the volunteers for their hard work and commitment and the
feedback we have received from our clients in providing this much needed service.
As well as the provision ofour direct services there are also many issues that take
place in the background that affect victims ofAsbestos Related Illness and to this end
I have asked Brian to provide a supplementary report to provide us with an overview
of some of the issues that have taken place over the past 12 months
Jean Howland
Chairperson
Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support Group 1 vlceuK
MEMBER
3/5 Fryer Street, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 1 ND
ASBESTOS VICTIMS Telephone: 01928 576641 Fax: 01928 576649
SUPPORT GROUP
email: cavsg@btconnect.com website: www.cavsg.co.uk
HALTON
VAT No: 726 9383 01 Registered Charity No. 1042679
Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support tGxrouy
Workers Report for the period 1st April 2006 to 319t March 2007
The past 12 months has been an exceptionaly busy year and a real roller coaster ride
for victims of asbestos disease. The purpose ofthis report is to provide a brief
overview ofevents, over the past 12 months, affecting those with asbestos related
disease and also as a supplementary report to the Chairs report for the same period.
In May 2006 the House ofLords delivered a Judgement that meant Mesothelioma
would be treated as a divisible illness. This Judgement went against all the principals
decided at a previous Judgement from the Lords. This decision launched a massive
campaign by victims support groups, Solicitors, trade unions, victims and their
families and many other supporters that als gained support from the Government. In
July 2006 a retrospective amendment was made to the Compensation Bill that in
essence reversed the unjust decision made by the House of Lords.
Throughout the year the Asbestos Groups Forum have had meetings with the
Department of Works and Pensions and the Government both in Leeds and London to
discuss the speeding up of Mesothelioma claims, Industrial Injuries review and the
Workers Compensation Act 1979. Submissions have been put forward on all these
subjects and the matters are ongoing.
April 2006 saw the introduction, into the Industrial Injuries Scheme, of lung cancer
without asbestosis. Although restrictive to certain trades and time this has enabled
some sufferers to now qualify where previously they did not.
In December 2006 the Scheme for Turner & Newalls workers was finalised. Although
percentages are low, payments have started to be made from the scheme. Workers
who had developed asbestos related disease had spent 5 years in the wilderness
uncertain ofany compensation at all.
Following a decision by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) that
Alimta was not cost effective an appeal and campaign followed. Alimta is the only
licensed drug for use with cisplatin in chemotherapy for treatment of Mesothelioma.
The appeal, on some ofthe points raised, was upheld and referred back to the NICE
committee. In October 2006 a lobby ofMP's was held and over 40 MP's attended the
meeting. The final decision by NICE is expected shortly but indications are that
Alimta will not be funded due to cost effectiveness in England but will be available in
Scotland. The campaign continues.
A High Court Test Case in 2006 held that workers of the former National Dock
Labour Board Scheme could sue the Government for their asbestos injuries. In 2007
the court ofappeal upheld the decision ofthe High Court. The decision will allow
hundreds of former Dockers to be compensated by the Government.
In February 2007 the Cheshire group joined the Merseyside group for an event known.
as Action Mesothelioma Day. The purpose of the event was to raise an awareness of
Mesothelioma, a form ofcancer caused by asbestos, and to demand improved
research, treatment and care for sufferers. Asbestos Victims Support Groups, British
Lung Foundation and many other supporters arranged many events throughout the
UK. The Liverpool event saw over 200 people attend and 500 balloons were released.
The event also raised over £2200 for the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund.
Those suffering with asbestos pleural plaques have been left in limbo after the Court
of Appeal ruled that compensation for this condition would no longer be made. The
House ofLords will rule on the matter and the cases are due to be heard in June 2007.
Other legal issues of concern that have arisen over the past 12 months are:
The trigger issue: This basically argues when an insurance policy comes into effect.
Whether it is at the point of exposure or the manifestation ofthe disease.
Asymptomatic asbestosis: This issue is about the level of loss of lung function caused
by asbestosis that should be compensatable.
The network of support to victims of asbestos related illness has continued to
strengthen. The Cheshire group works closely with other asbestos support groups,
through the Asbestos Groups Forum, in identifying and acting upon issues affecting
those with asbestos related illness and improves services to our clients.
The groups work both as a forum and independently with our networking partners to
ensure the best possible support is available. Our network partners include victims
and their families, Trade Unions, Solicitors, Nurses, Hospitals, Doctors, other
healthcare workers, MP's and many others.
Another important day to remember each year is the 28th April. This is International
Workers Memorial Day. This is a day when we fight for the living and remember
those that have died as a result of the workplace. We continue to campaign for it to be
officially recognised by the Government.
We are constantly facing adversity and ever changing dilemmas. However the one
thing that remains constant is that The Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support Group will
always demand justice for victims of asbestos related disease and their families and
continue to provide the much need information, help, advice and support to those
unfortunate enough to be affected by it.
Brian Dellaway
Advice/support manager
ppr
5N,,, Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support Group ddv[~'E.3oK
~MEM'BER
3/5 Fryer Street, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 1 ND
ASBESTOS VICTIMS Telephone: 01928 576641 Fax: 01928 576649
SUPPORT GROUP
email: cavsg@btconnect.com website: www.cavsg.co.uk HALTON
VAT No: 726 9383 01 Registered Charity No. 1042679
Treasurers report 2006/2007.
Notes on Accounts -2007.
I must first of all draw your attention to the fact that the surplus for the year is
incorrect - if you take into consideration the £9,542 donated for the new Caravan
( bought in April) then we made a loss of £5,000.
This was due, in part, to our grant from Halton Borough Council being reduced by a
third, and of course the first full year of Brians Salary.
Brians employment has, as expected, had a large affect on our workload in Casework,
Outreach, Networking, Training and Conferences. This has had the spin off of
producing dramatic increases in donations and fees. But the main affect is not
reflected in the figures - our increased ability to help, to advise, but most of all to
influence National decision making.
Margaret Brown
IN\ ~ .
Treasurer
CHESHIRE ASBESTOS VICTIMS SUPPORT GROUP
ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDING 31ST MARCH 2007.
INCOME £ £ EXPENDITURE £ £
Grant Halton Borough Council 15,000 Salary 29,047
Sponsorship 7,350 Volunteers Expenses 3,941
Fees 14,250 Outreach/Casework 1,601
Membership 610 Training/Conferences 1,689
Caravan Lettings 1,468 Promotion 1,343
Donations 32,172 Administration 6,176
Other 1,458 49,958 Insurance/Subscriptions 1,897
Premises Costs 11,188
Caravan Costs 4,157
Welfare/Trips 1,128 62,167
Depreciation 5,043
Surplus for year Note 1 5,098
72,308 72,308
STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS AS AT 31ST MARCH 2007.
Reserves B/F 72,716 Fixed Assets 6,000
Note 1 Surplus 06/07 5,098 77,814 Office Equipment 4,000 10,000
Accruals 3,667 Current Assets
Cash/Bank 59,211
VAT owed to us 1,570
Prepayments 10,700 71,481
81,481 81,481
Note - Reserves include a restricted fund £9,542 donated towards Caravan replacement.
Independent Examiners Repo rt : I have prepared the above accounts from the records provided having vouched all transactions
and after explanations I conclude that they give a true and fair view of the affairs of your Charity.
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