Financial support: Caxton Foundation

What is the Caxton Foundation and how might it be able to help me?
The Caxton Foundation is a new charitable body, established as a result of the Coalition Government’s 2010 review of the financial and other support available to those affected by the hepatitis C virus through medical treatment that used contaminated NHS blood or blood products.

The purpose of the Caxton Foundation is to support those infected and their families, where charitable need can be reasonably demonstrated. The Caxton Foundation is fully funded by Government.

How do I qualify as a potential beneficiary?
If you have received a Stage 1 or Stage 2 payment from the Skipton Fund, you will qualify as a potential beneficiary. If your deceased partner or direct family member died before 2003 and you have received a payment from the Skipton Fund, you will also qualify as a potential beneficiary.

If you are a beneficiary of the Macfarlane or Eileen Trusts (which provide charitable relief to people infected with HIV through medical treatment that used contaminated NHS blood products) and have received payments from the Skipton Fund, you will continue to be eligible to receive help from those charities equivalent to the support available from the Caxton Foundation.

How do I demonstrate charitable need?
It depends on your individual circumstances, in particular your financial position. The Foundation will be required to consider your household income, however it is derived; if it seems that the help you are seeking is genuinely necessary and cannot be reasonably financed from your own resources, support will be given.

For example, undergoing treatment for hepatitis C may have a serious impact on your financial circumstances;   if that is the case, then you should contact the Caxton Foundation.

Why do I have to demonstrate charitable need?
It is a legal requirement; a charity such as the Caxton Foundation may not make payments where there is no evidence of the need for charitable relief.

Why should I have  to “beg” from a charity, it is humiliating?
While this is an understandable  reaction, the Caxton Foundation’s trustees and staff will not regard  beneficiaries in this way and will treat all applications for support on a “one-to-one” basis and in a confidential and empathetic manner. 

Although the Caxton Foundation is not a democratic membership organisation, every potential beneficiary is a stakeholder and every potential beneficiary is encouraged to take part in the development of the Foundation’s welfare policies.

Visit the website at www.caxtonfoundation.org.uk

Is the personal information that I provide to the Caxton Foundation secure?
The Foundation regards the safe management of individual personal  data as a priority. All staff have signed a confidentiality agreement and any breach of this agreement is treated as a disciplinary offence. No information will be released to any external organisation, including the Departments of Health, without the specific consent of the individual concerned. You can review your electronic and hard files at any time by prior arrangement.

Can I visit the Caxton Foundation?
Yes, of course. Just let us know when you want to come so the member of staff you want to see can arrange to be available .

Any questions?
If you have any questions, please ring 020 7233 0057 in the first instance and you will be directed to the member of staff you need to talk to:

Key contacts:
Chief Executive – Martin Harvey
Welfare Manager – Roz Riley
Welfare Officer – Keisha Hanchard
Welfare Assistant – Nicole Hornby
Administration Secretary – Gillian Brown