When Graeme Thomas and his wife Clare (pictured) received life-changing news, they were able to turn to us for help.

In April 2025 Clare was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).Through our Benevolent Fund we have been able to provide the family with essential financial support to help them deal with the current and future challenges they face.

In 2023 Clare began experiencing difficulty chewing and episodes of restless legs at night. Over time, these symptoms became more pronounced and were accompanied by increasing fatigue.

After a lengthy process of medical investigations she was diagnosed with pseudo-bulbar onset MND, which primarily affects functions such as chewing, swallowing, speech, and breathing. MND is a life-limiting progressive neurological condition for which there is currently no cure.

Since her diagnosis 60 year-old Clare has had to give up her job working for the NHS as an occupational therapy assistant and Graeme, 57, has had to step down from his leadership role and move to teaching part-time. These changes have created unavoidable financial pressures for the couple, who have two sons aged 18 and 20. This led to Graeme contacting the NASUWT Benevolent Fund to seek assistance.

“After coming to terms with Clare’s diagnosis, we were advised by the MND Association to plan ahead and make practical adjustments for the future.

“One key aspect was adapting our home to ensure it would remain suitable for Clare’s changing needs. We contacted our local council to enquire about Disabled Facilities Grants to help with the cost of these adaptations. However, in our local authority, the grant is means tested and we were not eligible for support. 

“As a result, the responsibility for funding the necessary adaptations has fallen to us, which led me to seek assistance from the NASUWT Benevolent Fund.”

Graeme says that the support received from the Union has made a significant impact on the family. We were able to provide two grants to assist with both the family’s wellbeing and the practical adaptions necessary to ensure Clare could continue to live safely at their home in Herefordshire.

“We chose to use the wellbeing grant towards a family holiday. This was something Clare was keen for us to do so that we could spend time together and make memories, without the grant it would not have been possible.

“The second grant contributed to the essential adaptations to our home. The costs have been considerable, particularly as our house is older and required additional work before adaptations could be made.

“The financial pressure associated with the adaptations and the lack of local authority support has been challenging, and the assistance from the NASUWT has provided significant relief. We are extremely grateful for the help we have received.”

While Clare’s diagnosis has reshaped many aspects of the couple’s lives, Graeme says the support they have received from the Union and the MND community is assisting them in facing the future.

“Although the challenges continue, we remain committed to approaching each stage with clarity, resilience, and as much positivity as we can.”
 

What is the NASUWT Benevolent Fund?

The NASUWT Benevolent Fund is available to members, former members, the dependants of members and former members, and dependants of deceased members, provided a subscription has been paid to the Union.

Sometimes, members experience financial hardship through no fault of their own and as a result of unforeseen circumstances.

The NASUWT Benevolent Fund was created to provide effective short-term assistance during such difficulties.

Find out more