There has been a sharp increase in the number of younger accountants approaching the Chartered Accountants’ Benevolent Association (CABA) for support over the past year, according to the charity’s annual impact report.
CABA says that more than 3,500 individuals asked for help last year, up 17% on 2012. Requests from those under 35 were up by 115% and inquiries from the 35-49 age group by 65%. The figures include accountants requesting advice or information, those receiving one-to-one support, delegates trained and attendees at events.
Demand for counselling was - higher in the younger groups, career coaching most popular with ages 35-49 and requests for financial assistance most common with those over 65.
Overall, there was a 140% increase in the number of people provided with counselling services. Half (58%) of enquiries to CABA’s legal helpline were about employment, while the overall number of requests for online and face-to-face career coaching services was up by 137%. Two thirds (65%) of people who completed their course going on to find employment, become self-employed or generally benefited from the experience.
Financial assistance was core to CABA’s work with support extended to 142 chartered accountants and their dependants with ill health or disabilities. There was also a big spike in the number of payments made to provide specialist equipment and household adaptations to enable people to continue living in their own homes.
Kath Haines, CABA chief executive, said: ‘In 2013, we focused on working to make CABA the first port of call whenever chartered accountants or their families needed confidential help, whether they were facing a complex crisis, required practical advice or just needed someone to talk to.’
Over the next twelve months CABA will increase the support available for ICAEW members living overseas, after the report found a 93% increase in the number of overseas enquiries made through the online chat to an adviser.
