Cutting energy bills

The ABS has helped Maureen to make her home more energy efficient by replacing an old boiler and fitting double glazing. Thanks to the ABS, her gas bill has been reduced, and she can use her hard earned pension more effectively.

Chris's Story

Watch a video of Chris talking about how the ABS helped him when he broke his back. He tells his story here to encourage you to support the ABS.

Who we are

The Society was set up in 1850 by leading architects to help colleagues and their dependants "in necessitous circumstances". In 1853, the assets of the organisation amounted to £439. Records from that year described the Society's work, helping two widows with nine children between them, a "professional gentleman" and an architect "in the evening of his life". These cases remain typical of what we do today.

The Society is governed by a Council of 35 trustees, working with specialist committees and a country-wide network of around 40 branch representatives - all of them volunteers.

Full-time staff include trained welfare officers, who regularly visit all the people supported by the Society, help the Case Committee decide on the most suitable form of support and give confidential advice.