When you're on top of the perch, it's fine - but none of us knows what life will throw at us, and there will probably be times when the perch feels a bit wobbly and we need a helping hand to stop us from falling off.

Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to look for support.

One purpose of our Club is to provide "welfare" help, so please don't be wary of asking for it - either for yourself or on behalf of another Club member.

There are several ways you can go about it.

Within our Club we have members who act as Contactors for the Welfare Officer within a particular geographical area.

We don't pretend to be experts, but we do try to give support appropriate to individual members and their needs.

A phone call to the Welfare Officer or your contact person, or a word in a Committee Member's ear will start the ball rolling for a visit or a chat.

Even a little help can make a big difference and, as you might expect, all of our welfare activity is in the strictest confidence.

In another direction, this website has contact points for a range of Issues at Barclays centrally, or on the Financial side - various organisations can provide grants or advice; others can offer practical help.

But whatever you do, don't just sit and worry.

Make contact with us !