Asbestos Support and Campaign Group marks ten years of life-changing support

Since its establishment in 2014, the Group has become a vital lifeline for hundreds of individuals and families. In its first decade, the service has supported 1,938 cases, carried out 2,514 appointments – almost half of them home visits – and helped secure more than £17 million (£17,061,127.62) in confirmed benefits and compensation for clients. A further £2.5 million (£2,559,169) is assumed to have been successfully awarded but not reported back by clients.

Of the confirmed total, £7.8 million (£7,801,925.90) was secured through the Pneumoconiosis (Workers’ Compensation) Scheme, reflecting the Group’s deep expertise in navigating complex industrial compensation systems. Between 2020 and 2025, the Group also referred 132 clients to its panel solicitors for further legal support.

Working in partnership with TUC Northern, West View Advice and Resource Centre (WVARC), and leading trade union law firms, the Group provides free, confidential information, advice, and casework to anyone diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. This includes helping clients and their families to access benefits and compensation, liaising with healthcare professionals, and offering emotional and practical support following diagnosis and bereavement.

Asbestos exposure has caused devastating harm to workers in industries such as shipbuilding, engineering, manufacturing, construction, power generation, maintenance, and transport, and its legacy continues to affect many lives today. Despite its ban in 1999, asbestos remains present in thousands of buildings across the UK – including schools, hospitals, shops, and offices – meaning new cases of exposure continue to occur. Increasingly, the Group is also supporting women affected through secondary exposure, often from fibres carried home on their partners’ work clothing.

Through its specialist Industrial Injuries Benefits Adviser, the Group ensures no one faces the complex process of claiming benefits and compensation alone. Clients consistently report that the support they receive not only improves their financial situation but also enhances their wellbeing, mental health, and ability to cope at an incredibly difficult time.

Dave Pike, TUC North East, Yorkshire & Humber Regional Secretary, said:

“For ten years, the Asbestos Support and Campaign Group has stood alongside workers and their families at some of the most challenging moments in their lives. 

"The £17 million secured in compensation represents justice, dignity, and peace of mind for people and families whose lives have been shattered by exposure to asbestos. We are incredibly proud of what this service has achieved in a decade of support and solidarity."