BCS Membership

The BCS Welfare Committee Members work hard to support those in need. Apart from financial support, we can make friendly visits and provide advice and companionship. If you would like to volunteer to help with visiting people in need, please contact the Office. We are also extremely grateful for any donation you direct to the Welfare section.

The “English Cemetery” at Gamboa is one of the oldest British institutions in Rio.  It is a state-listed monument and has to be kept in first-class repair. With the revitalization of the port area and the “Porto Maravilha”, the Prefeitura has been particularly demanding over the last few years and we are therefore in dire need of donations to help meet costs.

This Fund covers most of the BCS’s activities, with the exception of Welfare for our own community. It is out of this Fund that we contribute towards several local charities. All our membership services, office expenses including salaries, subsidising of events, running the Website, are also provided for by this Fund.

Due to its age and status as a listed building, the property at Rua Real Grandeza 99 requires constant maintenance. An enormous amount of work has been done in the last years, some routine and some emergency (electric wiring, roof guttering etc.). Over the last year the Jubilee Hall has had an almost complete makeover thanks to a joint effort and contributions by all site users. We still want to address the lighting issue and renovate the kitchen. Please consider contributing towards further improvements that are sorely needed.

Instead of an orphanage for boys, the premises and resources in Araras, near Petrópolis, are used to reach out to whole families, with pre-school education and a crèche for the very young children of bread-winning mothers. We also have a “Help to Families in Need” Project. Funds are used to help with building of more adequate accommodation for families as well as monthly food parcels, treatment for health problems and psychiatric issues, including drug and alcohol dependence, which can destroy family life.

Founded in 1954 by Rev. R.K. Reibs and the wives of the UK, USA and Canadian Ambassadors. The Ambulatório continues to offer healthcare to underprivileged families in the city and state of Rio. Over 20 doctors/dentists are employed, covering a wide range of specialities and the medication prescribed by them is given FREE to ‘clients.’ Tapestry work is also provided for about 80 ladies who work at home; they are given all the material necessary and are paid per square metre produced.