The bp Helios Fund

Established in 1990, the bp Helios Fund (originally, the bp Benevolent Fund) was created to support former employees of bp’s UK-based companies and their dependants who are experiencing hardship. The Fund’s mission remains unchanged: to provide financial assistance to those in need, whether through home repairs, mobility equipment, hardship grants, or other essential support.

The Fund is an independent registered charity, overseen by a board of trustees made up of current and former bp employees. bp provided an initial grant of £1 million in 1990, which has been carefully invested over the years to generate proceeds for grant distribution.

Modernization and growth

In recent years, the Fund has undergone a major modernization programme to expand its reach and impact. 

With support from bp, the Fund previously delivered one-off Cost of Living Grants (COLAG) to more than 5,400 bp pensioners. While applications for this grant are now closed and all eligible cases have been settled, this achievement underscores the Fund’s dedication to supporting those in need.

Annual grants have increased significantly from 20-40 per year to more than 400 in 2025. This progress was further accelerated in 2025, when the Fund received a substantial £10 million contribution from bp. This major investment will enable the Fund to further increase the scale and scope of its support. Not only will the additional resources help to fund more grants, but it will also strengthen the Fund’s long-term sustainability.