Introduction.
The Lighthouse Club is The Construction Industry Charity, and at the same time is The focal point for all those working in, or connected with, the construction industry. Established in the UK in 1956, the Lighthouse Club now has branches worldwide - in the Asia Pacific Region there are branches in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore.
Each branch aims to promote fellowship and co-operation amongst all members in every respect and wherever possible and also to develop a Benevolent Fund to provide financial assistance to victims of accident or illness within the construction industry and to their dependents where a fatal accident has occurred.
The motto of the Lighthouse Club is "Allis cum Humanitate" which translates as "Consideration for Others".
The Lighthouse Club has two primary objectives, and the Club is non-political in all its activities.
Objectives
The first objective of the Club is to promote fellowship among members and co-operation in every respect and wherever possible. Through social events organised by the Club, like-minded individuals from a common industry are provided the opportunity to meet and share experiences in a forum remote from the more usual working environment.
The second but equally important objective, and the one for which perhaps the Club is best known, is to provide financial first aid to the unfortunate victims of accident or illness within the construction industry, and to their dependants where a fatal or permanently disabling accident has occurred. This role is greatly appreciated by the recipients of assistance since in many cases compensation can take a considerable time to be paid and families are left without income at a very stressful time.
The Club generally withdraws once compensation has been paid. Each branch of the Club has instigated its own Benevolent Fund (as a registered charity) and disburses assistance in the form of lump sum payments or modest monthly pensions from funds that it has raised itself from donations received from members, sponsoring organisations and financial surpluses resulting from social events organised for the benefit of the members.
History
The Lighthouse Club was formed in the United Kingdom in 1956 at the Ministry of Public buildings and Works Exhibition, Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the North East of England. The Club was named after St Mary1s Lighthouse, Whitley Bay, a prominent landmark in the area, and this lighthouse was adopted as the Club1s symbol. It was formed to continue the goodwill and co-operation enjoyed by members of the industry at the exhibition.
From this early beginning, the Club has grown to almost 7,000 members in the United Kingdom and enjoys the patronage and support of many of the leading organisations in the civil engineering industry there. The members are all connected with the construction, civil engineering, building, plant and associated industries.