Welcome to Where it's AT | the Architectural Technology Podcast

In this episode of Where It's AT, Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT and Simon Ashmore discuss the vital work of the Architects' Benevolent Society (ABS). They delve into how ABS provides crucial financial, legal, and mental health support to professionals in the architectural field. With testimonials reflecting the life-changing impact of ABS, they emphasise the importance of community involvement, support networks, and the organisation's future strategies to enhance wellbeing within the industry. The episode is a call to action for awareness, support, and donations to continue ABS's mission of making a positive difference in people's lives.

Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT

Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT is the current President of the Architects’ Benevolent Society (ABS) where Architectural Technology professionals are supported alongside architects.  Eddie has previously held the posts of President, Vice-President Practice and Regional Chair for the Northern Ireland Regional Committee at the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists.  Externally, Eddie is the Vice-Chair of the Northern Ireland Construction Professionals Council (which is affiliated to the CIC) and is a member of the Management Boards of the prestigious NI Construction Group and the Construction Industry Forum of Northern Ireland, representing the industry at the highest level. Eddie is a frequent guest speaker at professional seminars and workshops regarding Architectural Technology and architecture. He also represents CIAT as an expert witness at Parliament Buildings at Stormont, when required. In November 2014, Eddie was a recipient of the prestigious CIAT Gold Award for his services to CIAT's Northern Ireland Region.

Simon Ashmore

Simon Ashmore is Architects Benevolent Society’s CEO. He joined ABS in January 2025 bringing six years’ experience in the sector gained at the Bank Workers Charity, where he led services, wellbeing, marketing, fundraising, and digital development. Prior to this Simon had a nine-year career at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), the examining and professional body for GPs in the UK. There he held a number of commercial and professional development roles including Executive Director of GP Forward View. Simon previously worked at the Ifs School of Finance (now the London Institute of Banking and Finance) as the marketing lead. He is a former trustee of Electrical Safety First and non-executive director of Certsure.

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00:00 Introduction

01:46 Understanding ABS and Its Services

04:16 Personal Stories and Impact of ABS

07:47 How to Reach Out for Support

11:18 ABS's Future Strategies and Industry Impact

13:10 Getting Involved and Fundraising

17:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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The Architects Benevolent Society (ABS) provides vital, confidential support to architectural professionals and their families, addressing both financial and mental health challenges within the industry.

Reaching out for help is encouraged and accessible; ABS welcomes enquiries from anyone in the architectural community, including technologists, practice staff, and dependants, ensuring no one faces difficulties alone.

Community involvement, whether through becoming an ambassador, fundraising, or simply spreading awareness, is essential for extending ABS’s reach and fostering a culture of wellbeing and support across the profession.

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Architects Benevolent Society

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Know someone who could benefit from listening?  Subscribe and share this episode with your network.

Know someone with a story to tell or a topic to explore?  Email us at atpodcast@ciat.global to nominate a guest or a topic.

Want to learn more about Architectural Technology, how to progress your career, or how to work with a Chartered AT?  Head to architecturaltechnology.com to find out more

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Podcast recorded and edited by: Jon Clayton [Podcasting]

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Disclaimer

The contents and views expressed by individuals in the Where it's AT podcast are their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of the companies they work for or the Host. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as advice.

We get lots of people coming to us who say, um, I feel burned

out and I can't cope at the minute.

And we are able to provide them with support

Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT: This organization has truly saved people's lives.

People have been in dark times, dark situations, can't see a way

out, and ABS has helped fix them.

Welcome to Where it's AT.

The podcast from CIAT shining a spotlight on the future focused design

discipline of Architectural Technology.

Know someone who could benefit from listening.

Subscribe and share this episode with your network.

Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT: Hello again, uh, Eddie Weir, and I'm the

immediate past president of CIAT.

And of course, I'm also proud to be the current president of the

Architect's Benevolent Society.

And I am delighted again to be your host for today's episode of where it's at.

I'm always conscious as we move into this time of year when many of our

profession may be feeling additional pressure or uncertainty, and that

it's more important than ever to highlight everything about ABS and the

wonderful support that's available.

The architectural industry in which we all work can be at

times be a demanding environment.

And for some of these demands, you can tick their tool and detrimentally

manifest themselves in many forms.

And considering that it's absolutely incredible to know that ABS is

here to offer support and help to those in our professions who may

be experiencing difficult times.

What I love about ABS is that it continues to be a symbol of hope and

support for those within and close to our architectural family, and

it has done for many, many years.

And that's why I'm delighted to be joined today by the current Architect's

Benevolent Society, CEO, Simon Ashmore, and we'll surely be talking about

who ABS is, what ABS support looks like, and how ABS are working towards

shipping the future of wellbeing across our architecture professions.

Whether you're someone who may need a little extra support or you simply

want to understand more about the work that ABS does, I hope you find today's

conversation reassuring and inspiring.

So let's get started.

Welcome, Simon.

It's always a pleasure.

Thanks, Eddie.

That's, uh, that's a great intro that you've given and it's great

to be chatting to you again.

I'm looking forward to telling, uh, the listeners about who we are and what we do.

Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT: Brilliant.

For those listening who may not be familiar with ABS and the incredible

work that you do, could you give us a wee brief introduction?

Yes.

So ABS is one of many sector specific benevolent charities.

They were mostly set up in the Victorian era, and each provide support

to a specific professional group.

And obviously ours is architecture, which these days includes

technologists and practice staff.

The charities been going for 175 years, Eddie.

As to what we do, uh, we offer support when people are struggling or face

a change in their circumstances.

And people come to us with all sorts of needs.

Sometimes it's a problem with their career, they've lost their job and they

need some help reshaping their career, or they've got a legal question and

we've got access to a legal helpline.

The two most common areas that people seek our support are with financial issues.

For which we can help them, uh, unlock the benefits that they're entitled to.

We can signpost them and help them prioritize and we can sometimes

support with, uh, a grant.

and the other area is their psychological wellbeing.

We get lots of people coming to us who say, um, I feel burned out

and I can't cope at the minute.

And we are able to provide them with support via an expert

partner called Anxiety UK and sort out some counseling for them.

The key stuff about our, um, services that, that, uh, it's

always free at the point of delivery and it's completely confidential.

Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT: Is an incredible service.

It really is.

see.

I have so many incredible stories, you know, I've had this wonderful

opportunity to have people respond to me.

And thanking them for the kind work that ABS has done.

And, and, and I'm not gonna mention too much of it in detail because uh, I just am

conscious that, you know, people's private lives, but I know, uh, in some instances

where, um, members of the architectural family have reached out to me.

And all I have simply done is saying, posted them like every good ambassador's,

uh, advised and, you know, and does they, they, they do it sincerely with empathy.

Uh, we don't go into too much detail about, you know, the circumstances of

what it is, but sometimes the people.

Just want to share it with me.

Uh, and I've had this, uh, wonderful response and emails and messages and

phone calls from those who ABS has helped.

And it's not just financial support.

This organization has truly saved people's lives.

Uh, people have been in dark times, dark situations, can't see a way

out, uh, and ABS has helped fix them.

Uh, and get their ba their ladies back on the track.

And, and it's something that, that Simon mentioned earlier.

It's, it's a holistic thing.

They don't, don't say, you know, you, you're looking a few pains or you're

looking at a grant for something.

Um, you know, it may help them with, you know, someone's having difficulty in their

career, uh, need employment advice, uh, maybe a bit of mental health support.

Uh, the whole package that they put together for that holistic sort of.

Review your people and what they need.

It's absolutely incredible.

And then these lovely people have come back to me and, you know, told me that

they, they, they were in that dark place and if it wasn't for the support that

ABS offered, they wouldn't be here today.

So when you put all of that in the context, uh, and when I say about the

incredible and fabulous support that ABS have to offer, you know, it can be.

It's understated.

Uh, and I think these people are very, very, great at what they do.

Uh, but they're very, very modest.

And I know they'll say, you know, it's their job and that's what they do.

But for those recipients, at the end of that support, it's life changing.

So for that, on behalf of everybody that you've helped, uh, I thank you.

Well, Eddie, that's ever say kind.

But of course it's a, it's a community effort and there

are a lot of people involved.

What I would say is that, it's a privilege, uh, working for a charity

that actually can help people.

You know, we've got a bit of money and we can, we can help out and then we see that.

From the responses that we get.

And there was an email just came through this morning from somebody

who had really supported in a, in a, in a meaningful way just writing to

say how grateful they were, but more importantly, that they're back on track.

That's the goal.

And um, and, and that's, uh, honestly, it's a joy to see those messages.

Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT: Yeah.

And, and, and for me, you know, um, you know, I, I'm.

It was elected their president a few years ago.

Uh, it's been an absolute joy.

And you know what?

I've met, uh, so many people and so many friends that are all ambassadors

in LinkedIn and, and for every now we, we usually get a, an ambassadors

group of people together, uh, on a Saturday afternoon or Saturday

morning, and we usually have a ball.

Uh, could you take a wee moment just to explain to us how uh, ABS fits into

the support landscape and what people should and may expect when reaching out?

Yeah, well if I take those in, in the other way round, so, uh,

when people, uh, get in touch with us, they can, they can do so by calling us.

We've got a, a helpline and the numbers on the website, um, and,

uh, they can send us an email.

But most commonly these days, they send us a simple form.

They complete a simple form that just gathers a bit of the crucial information

and it pops it through to us, and we will get back in touch with you.

Quite promptly, uh, within a day or two.

And, uh, typically we'll invite you to have a conversation with one of our

caseworkers, what I'd say to you as well.

I'm aware that people listening may be managers or colleagues of somebody

that they may have a concern for.

And sometimes, uh, those people, they give us a call and say, look,

I'm worried about such and such, which is absolutely wonderful.

It's a, it's a really, uh, caring thing to do.

If you're in that position, please urge that person themselves to

get in touch with us directly.

It makes it much easier for us to, to provide them with a, a service.

So we'll get back in touch with, uh, people who inquire.

Our team are friendly, they're experienced, and they won't judge you.

I'm really conscious that when people are at a low air, for whatever

reason, they feel anxious about even reaching out for support.

And so what I'd urge them to do is please just take that step.

Just just get in contact with us and, and see if we can help.

Our service philosophy is to explore as many different avenues of support

as that each client wants to look at or is able to deal with at one time.

So if they have financial issues and some mental health concerns, we

can look at both, but we'll try and prioritize it according to your need.

It's interesting, Eddie, that you talked about the wider support

landscape 'cause ABS operates within a wider ecosystem of support.

And that includes welfare benefits, uh, local authority, support, help from

other charities, and sometimes help from, uh, employers themselves, you know, in,

in larger organizations that may have a, an e, a p or specific HR resources.

So we will always try and help people navigate the options.

The support might be ours, but it might be that we're signposting

you to something else that you perhaps weren't aware of before.

Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT: And for those listeners, Simon, who may

be unsure as to whether they are eligible to receive support from a

BS, what would you say to someone who thinks that they may not qualify?

I would say that if you're listening to this podcast,

there's a very good chance you're eligible for our services and

you should just reach out to us.

And we will help to, uh, determine whether you are eligible.

Um, just so we are clear, um, that we've got a, a wide definition of,

uh, architecture, community, you know, those that we will support, and it

does include technologists and, uh, landscape architects and their dependents.

Um, but it also includes practice staff too.

So if you are a member of the practice staff, we'll just want to see that you've

worked in practice for a couple of years, um, and then there's a very strong chance

that you'll be eligible for our support.

Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT: So Simon, we've spoken about ABS's future strategy,

focusing on connectedness and supporting employers, uh, and employee wellbeing.

How do you envisage ABS becoming a stronger resource for the waiter industry?

Uh, thanks Eddie.

Well, um, our focus has largely been on providing support to the individual.

And that's in our DNA, if you like.

And it's something that we'll always do.

It's the core of our work, but to some extent, we're treating

the symptom and not the cause.

Um, we're really aware of the pressures on people in employment, um, working long

hours and often under, under resourced.

We know that that contributes sometimes to the problems that

they seek our support with.

And the most obvious example is those who come to us feeling burned out.

Now we're able to provide them with some counseling, but wouldn't it be better

if we could, achieve some influence over wellbeing practice within employment

so that we don't get to that stage?

So it's early days, but what I'd like to do is for ABS to try and influence for.

More positive employment practice and to do so in a really practical way.

So that might be, uh, for example, to, uh, champion good examples of,

of good practice so that others might take that, that bat up.

And to sign posts, really good quality training resources.

What I really want to do is, is find the activists in the industry and begin a

conversation with them about how together.

We can affect a positive change.

Know someone with a story to tell or a topic to

explore email atpodcast@ciat.global to nominate a guest or a topic.

Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT: I know you're keen to hear from individuals including

CIAT members who might be willing to share their experiences or act as ambassadors.

What.

Kinda stories or voices are you hoping to bring forward and tell

us how people can get involved?

Yeah.

So this is really important to me because, we are in a

privileged position at ABS in the.

We could support more people than we currently are.

my big challenge then is to spread the word about ABS so that more

people who need our support are aware of us and will pick up the

phone or send us that web form.

So, uh, to anyone who's listening, who likes what they've heard, I think the

first thing that you could do to help is just tell your colleagues about us.

Invite them to listen to this podcast, visit the website, put

some notice up in the office, that's the first thing that they can do.

I would then say, if you are somebody who.

He's a really super social influencer type, and I suspect that's

probably somebody of a different generation to you and I, Eddie.

Um, follow us online, follow us online and, and post a link to our socials.

You know, really try and lift it that way.

That would be absolutely great.

If you wanted to take things a bit further, you can become an ambassador.

And.

What we'd ask of the ambassadors is that they do everything that I've just

described, but maybe, also present about ABS, uh, to your colleagues.

That's really great, uh, if you're able to do that.

And sometimes with the ambassadors, we we're trying to develop more of

a two-way communication as well, so.

Ambassadors giving us feedback about what their experience of employment looks

like is really helpful to us because we work for a charity, not in the industry.

So we need to be connected in order that we can design the right service for you.

Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT: So for those people who, uh, would love

to just give a wee bit of time just to, to this wonderful organization.

I'd say it's so rewarding, uh, and do give it, give it your utmost thought.

Uh, get yourself in the ambassador's role.

And if you're looking at any, um, help and support about fundraising

events, you know, come and talk to us.

You know, we've organized thousands of them.

You know, it could be simple as a, a bun and cake morning.

You know, I, I bake my first cake, uh, for mental health day.

Um, I, I don't think I'm.

Allowed to make any more.

'cause Dan said the mess I made in the kitchen was just not worth the hassle.

I could go and buy a cake next year.

Uh, but look, it's, it's all a bit of fun.

But the underlying, uh, current in all of this is, is, is for an incredible cause.

So, uh, yes, and if you can, uh, think of new and, uh, fantastic ways of

fundraising, uh, let us know as well.

'cause you know, we'd love to help you.

I mentioned some moments ago about wanting to signpost

brilliant training and resources.

But that stuff has to be relevant to you.

So, um, if you are somebody who has offered, or, uh, more particularly

participated in some training with a wellbeing theme it would

be great to broadcast about that.

Let us know about it and, uh, and, and we can link to it.

The final thing is that, ABS is a charity, and of course we accept

donations and um, if you're somebody with a natural flare for raising money,

run an event, do a, a bake off or a cake sale or, um, you know, run round the

world for us, that would be amazing.

Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT: Our subscribe to our chicken run, which is the best

days crack that you'll ever experience, especially I, I, honest to God, uh, the

chicken run is just something fabulous.

Uh, and even my wife enjoys it.

I think she's won, uh, best dressed chicken.

Uh, two years in a row.

So I don't think that's ever been done before.

So come on, everybody out there get dressed up and you'll

have the best days crack up.

I'm sure we'll be, uh, letting you know weeping information on the dates

for the chicken run later next year.

Simon, honestly, a huge thank you for joining me today and for sharing

such, uh, thoughtful insights and valuable information, especially.

Uh, what can be, of course, uh, a difficult time of the year for so many.

And to you, our listeners, if there is anything that you've heard today that

resonates with you or you think someone you know could benefit from support,

please don't hesitate to reach out to the Architects Benevolence Society.

Their link can be found in this episode.

Show notes.

ABS are truly amazing and they're there to listen.

They're there to guide, and they're there to help you through difficult times.

Whatever those may be for me, uh, it's an honor to work alongside

them and to see firsthand how they make a difference to people's lives.

All for me to do is to wish you all a peaceful and restorative festive

season, and thank you for listening to this ABS episode of where it's at.

Take care everyone.

Thank you and bye-bye.

You've been listening to where it's at.

A huge thanks to our guests and to you for listening.

Want to learn more about architectural technology, how to progress your

career, or how to work with a chartered architectural technologist?

Head to architectural technology.com to find out more.

The contents and views expressed by individuals in the where it's at

podcasts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the

companies they work for or the host.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should

not be considered as advice.