Why join the BBCPA Pensioners’ Association?
The BBC pension scheme is widely recognised as among the best in the country. It is extremely well run from the centre in Cardiff, the trustees oversee the fund with wisdom and dedication and the BBC itself remains committed to the future of the scheme.
So why do we need an Association?
BBCPA has existed for over 20 years. It was founded in 1988 to keep a watch on the management of the Corporation’s pension fund at a time when the pension industry was much less regulated, information was harder to obtain and the misappropriation of pension funds not uncommon. In recent years there have been demonstrable improvements in the regulation, governance, communication and administration of pension funds. However the Association believes that the case for pensioners individually and collectively to maintain an active interest in the management of their pension fund remains as strong as ever.
Membership of the Association has now risen to around 3000. Among the successes of the Association has been the creation of a pensioner-elected trustee, adjustments to the levelling option, and inputs to legislation. The Association has helped individual pensioners with problems relating to their pension. The Association has also campaigned to get better access to BBC buildings for pensioners.
For further information please contact Nicholas Whines.
- Membership Form (58Kb)
- Change of Address Form (43Kb)
Management and meetings
The Association is run by a management committee elected each year in April at the Annual General Meeting. The committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month in central London to conduct its business and to deal with issues raised by members. The pensioner-elected trustee attends these meetings on a quarterly basis to keep the committee in touch with the activities and deliberations of the trustees. Twice a year officers of the committee meet with BBC and Pension Fund managers, giving an opportunity to seek information and raise issues of concern.
In the summer of 2009 two members of the committee met with Jeremy Peat, Chair of the BBC Pension Fund Trustees. In October the Association holds three regional meetings to keep local members in touch and hear of issues which need to be investigated.
Mailings
Each year members receive three mailings: at Christmas the Association publishes a newsletter which includes news of the Association and items of interest to pensioners. In March the annual report is produced along with a call notice for the AGM and an invitation to submit questions and motions. In June the minutes of the AGM are distributed along with details of the forthcoming regional meetings. These documents are available from the Download page.
'Life after the BBC'
To celebrate the Association’s 20th anniversary in 2008, the Association conducted a survey of nearly 4000 ex-BBC staff under the title ‘Life after the BBC’. This discovered amongst other things that the majority of BBC pensioners are leading active and healthy lives, that their time at the BBC was among the best years of their life, and that they retained a strong interest in and sometimes critical view of the current BBC. Hard copies of the report are still available Please write to the Membership Secretary at BBCPA, PO Box 230, Alton GU34 9AR enclosing an A4 stamped addressed envelope. Alternatively the report may be downloaded from the Download page.
Subscriptions
Membership of the Association is open to all those in receipt of a BBC pension. The annual subscription costs £10.00. Joint membership is available to two members living at the same address for £15.00 and life membership is offered to those over eighty for £50.00. Honorary life membership is offered to the spouse or partner of a deceased member.
Discounts and services for members
New members receive all the publications for the preceding year and while stocks last a copy of "Life after the BBC", which was generally regarded as a good read! Members can take advantage of discounts offered by BBC Management, including the Radio Times. Members have also been pleased by the service provided by Roberts Radios when acquiring a new DAB radio. A legal helpline is provided by the Association offering a 30-minute telephone consultation.
