The British Benevolent Society of California

06/18/2026

A big thank you to everyone who packed the house for our official World Cup watch party yesterday! The energy in LA was absolutely unmatched. 🇬🇧⚽️

Special shoutout to Sandro Monetti for being an incredible host, and a huge thank you to The Chestnut Club for hosting our exclusive event in such a perfect space.

We also want to give a major thanks to for joining us, and to all of our amazing BBS members and guests who made the afternoon so much fun!

Stay tuned - we have a lot more coming your way soon!

06/16/2026

We’re delighted to welcome Julia Schieffer as Executive Director of the British Benevolent Society of California. Julia brings more than 15 years of leadership experience across strategy, marketing, growth, and operations, along with a strong commitment to community and mission-driven work.

Please join us in welcoming Julia to BBS!

06/08/2026

In Memoriam – Norman Macleod, OBE

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Norman Macleod, OBE, passed away on 27 May 2026. He was 88 years old.

Born in Edinburgh and educated at Ampleforth College in York, Norman made San Francisco his home for over 60 years. Many of you will have known him as a brilliant family lawyer, a gifted actor with a long career in Bay Area voice work, and someone whose intellect and humor made any gathering better for his presence.

Norman was part of the fabric of this organization for as long as many of us can remember. He served as a Director and, most recently, as a member of our Relief Committee, where his legal expertise and genuine compassion made a real difference to the people we support. For many years, he generously opened his law office conference room for our meetings, a quiet act of kindness that was very much Norman. Even when mobility made it harder to join us in person, he stayed close to the work, contributing thoughtfully to relief cases and never stopped caring about the people the BBS exists to help.

He was also the Honorary Legal Adviser to the British Consulate-General in San Francisco and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, an honor presented by Prince Charles at a ceremony here in San Francisco, with friends and family around him.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 50 years, Dianne, his son Alexander, daughter-in-law Katherine, and grandchildren Neil and Claire.

Norman was a wonderful and very special member of the British community. He really cared about the BBS and its mission, and we will miss him greatly.

A memorial service will be announced in due course. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of your choosing. To request details of his memorial service or to share memories and well wishes, please contact [email protected]

Read the full obituary here:

View Norman Macleod's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

06/01/2026

🥂 Tonight!

We're kicking off summer at The Spinnaker in Sausalito, and we'd love for you to join us.

Come enjoy great company, waterfront views, and a relaxed evening with fellow members and friends of the British community.

Your ticket also supports the British Benevolent Society's mission of helping British individuals facing hardship throughout California.

📍 The Spinnaker, Sausalito
📅 Tonight, June 1st
⏰ 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

See you by the bay! 🌊☀️

RSVP HERE: https://www.britishbenevolentsociety.com/events/mi

05/26/2026

The British community in California is coming together for one of the standout matches of FIFA World Cup 2026.

Join us on Wednesday, June 17th at The Chestnut Club in Santa Monica as England takes on Croatia in an exclusive private watch party hosted by the British Benevolent Society.

Forget the crowded pub. This is a chance to experience the match surrounded by fellow Brits in a stunning members-only venue opened exclusively for this event.

📍 The Chestnut Club, Santa Monica
📅 Wednesday, June 17, 2026
⏰ 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Standard Tickets — $30
VIP Tickets — $80, including BBS membership and exclusive gifts.

Most importantly, every ticket helps support the BBS mission assisting Brits facing hardship across California.

Tickets are now on sale and space is limited: https://www.britishbenevolentsociety.com/events/mi-7zjhc

05/10/2026

This Mother’s Day, we’re reminded that compassion can change the course of someone’s darkest moment.

A British postgraduate student and her young daughter were preparing to return home to Glasgow after time in Los Angeles.

Then, everything changed.

A fraud alert froze her bank accounts, cutting off access to every penny she had. Suddenly, she was unable to pay for food, flights, or even a place to stay. Far from home, with a child depending on her, the situation became critical.

She reached out to the British Consulate. They reached out to the British Benevolent Society of California, Inc.

We stepped in immediately, securing emergency accommodation near LAX and arranging repatriation flights once her situation was verified.

Within days, mother and daughter were safely home in Scotland.

No parent should have to face a crisis alone, especially far from home.

For more than 165 years, the BBS has provided practical, compassionate support to British nationals facing hardship across the United States. This work continues because of people who choose to help when it matters most.

👉 Support our mission: www.bbsofca.org/donate

05/03/2026

This International Workers’ Day, we’re reminded how quickly stability can be lost.

A British actor in Los Angeles had built a life. Two jobs. Steady income. Health benefits. A sense of momentum.

Then, almost overnight, it was gone.

Both workplaces shut down during the pandemic. One closed without paying his final wages. Within weeks, he was facing rent, bills, and an uncertain future, far from home and without a safety net.

Through the British community, he found the British Benevolent Society of California, Inc.

We were able to provide short-term financial support, helping him stay housed and giving him the space to rebuild. Not a handout, but a bridge at a critical moment.

Today, he’s back on his feet.

Support like this can make all the difference when it matters most.

If you believe in standing behind those facing unexpected hardship, we invite you to be part of this work.

👉 Donate today: www.bbsofca.org

04/23/2026

St. George’s Day is a time to reflect on who we are, and how we care for one another.

A British Army veteran living in the U.S. faced a sudden and devastating turn in his life. After surviving domestic violence, he was left injured, without work, and without a home.

At the same time, his elderly mother in Scotland fell seriously ill.

With no means to get home, he reached out for help.

Through the British Consulate and the British Benevolent Society, we were able to fund his emergency return to the UK, reuniting him with family and giving him the chance to heal.

No one who has served should face crisis alone.

This St. George’s Day, stand with those who need it most.

👉 Donate today: www.bbsofca.org

03/28/2026

Join us for our new Happy Hour at The Spinnaker in Sausalito on Monday, March 30, 2026. Perched on the waterfront, The Spinnaker features panoramic views of the Sausalito harbor, the San Francisco skyline, Angel Island, Belvedere, Alcatraz, and the Bay Bridge.

The $20 fee is considered a charitable donation. Your contribution helps us continue providing financial relief to British individuals in need.

Event Details:
📍The Spinnmaker
100 Spinnaker Dr., Sausalito, CA 94965
🗓️ Monday, March 30th, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

For more details go to: https://wb74slhbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-ZTdG9ow24tdqPzE0aGL4HXwgrbUVRc4Ch2SR-n22pvjmgHQV1C2HRJM8wI7_LcrSiUETWgJPqDXo7wQKwa1Mek5DdDK-04FWqk7U9J50pOiAc59ZXlNKo-IF0NOI8LHqcKFqkkDmJg8AE5Fuz1OcapLmvwE3Ca3jV7irTdlRVnZ4myTwqA5aB39mbJ0-XFy&c=0HFPrJAGC0z1a6yDdB_ZFwiX_-XNBKHgGmMoyX0IOusjzGSG7Xa8FA==&ch=PpeVJlJjiHsNV_N_9lFNYgt815vqOxJdQSd2ovuukevRM9osBzEwGg==

03/26/2026

We’re hiring.

The British Benevolent Society of California (BBS) is searching for our next Executive Director, a leader ready to step into a role where the impact is real, immediate, and deeply human.

For over a century, BBS has provided direct relief to British nationals facing crisis across the Western United States, often when there is nowhere else to turn.

Now, we’re looking for someone who can lead that mission forward:
– Strategic, but hands-on
– Compassionate, but decisive
– Able to build relationships and drive meaningful impact

If this sounds like you, or someone you trust, take a closer look and help us spread the word.

👉 Apply or learn more: https://jobs.crelate.com/portal/cooksilverman/job/4h5wu4656frf31sfr6cz3m95uw

Together, we make sure no one faces crisis alone.

For over a century, BBS has provided direct relief to British nationals facing crises across the Western United States, often when there is nowhere else to turn.