CABA eases burden for 13,000 souls

CABA – the organisation that offers support to past and present ICAEW members and their families, helped over 13,000 people in 2015, its annual impact report reveals.

Now celebrating its 130th anniversary, over 1,200 people received personal support, while more than 2,000 took advantage of its personal and professional development courses. Over 4,000 attended joint events with ICAEW and over 6,000 used their online tools and advice. CABA also provided over £1m grants and donations.

Throughout 2015, enquiries were up 18% to 1,611, while there was also a 20% uplift to 1,251 in the number of people receiving personal support. And it reached more through online tools and advice such as social media. For those afflicted by financial issues, CABA was able to ease “fear, stress and anxiety” by providing short-term financial assistance. And, for those struggling with debt they worked with them and their creditors to address over £4.5m in collective debt.

“We are delighted to be able to help a variety of people with different wellbeing issues, and see how our advice and support can guide them to a successful career and a healthy life in the future,” CABA chief executive Kath Haines (pictured) said.

“We have listened to our community and expanded our offerings over the past year. People come to us at all stages of their life – from students and people established in their careers, to those retired, as well as family members. Support enquiries to CABA were up 18% to 1,611. And we saw a 20% increase in the number of people provided with personal support to 1,251. We hope that the number of people and the way we can support people will continue to grow in the coming years.”

CABA also extended family support to dependants up to the age of 25, introduced new personal and professional development courses, launched Find Me Help –  a signposting services for end of life support and a befriending service – aimed at combatting loneliness in later life and extended more support services across the globe.

CABA was set up with the aim of providing a safety net for chartered accountants and their dependents in need. It is not a charitable arm of the ICAEW, but an entirely independent charity providing financial aid, training, advice and counselling to the institute’s members. Having spent most of its existence as a charity, it was incorporated as a company in 2005 and ceased solely providing monetary aid. Instead, it moved to provide a far broader range of services in 2008, including counselling and career advice, as well as signposting to other aid organisations.