What an afternoon to remember!
Our CEO Simon Ashmore and Chair-elect John Moakes were honoured to represent ABS at yesterday's Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
It was great to speak with our Royal Patron, HRH The Duke of Gloucester about our mission to support people in the architectural community.
A huge thank you to HRH for his continued support, and to everyone who champions the work of our charity.
#ABS #ArchitectsBenevolentSociety #RoyalGardenParty #BuckinghamPalace
This is the final call - and the excitement is building!
Bake the World a Better Place 2026 is almost here. Mental Health Awareness Week runs from the 11th–17th May 2026, and we’re asking the architectural community to come together, get baking, and take action for mental health.
Our community baking day is Wednesday 13th May; but any day during the week works perfectly.
Here’s what you need to know:
• Not registered yet? This is your last chance - sign up at the link in bio
• Pledge by Today to get your event goodie box delivered in time
• Share your bakes using #BakeTheWorld2026 and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
Share your pictures with us! As well as posting on socials, it would be amazing if you could send your baking photos directly to us at [email protected] -we’d love to celebrate every bake!
Every bake counts. Let’s make some noise for mental health.
#BakeTheWorld2026 #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #Action #ArchitecturalCommunity #ABSnet
We're delighted to welcome Arjun Chopra to the ABS Development Committee.
A self-employed architect, Passivhaus designer, and Retrofit Coordinator in training, Arjun has built his career on the belief that architects must move beyond designing buildings to becoming stewards of the built environment — weaving sustainability as a green thread throughout everything he does, rather than treating it as a specialism.
Alongside his practice, he is a core member of Professional Architect Mentors (PAM) — a collective that grew out of shared work mentoring on the Part III programme at the University of Westminster, now championing diversity and strengthening mentorship across the profession.
Through this work — supporting students in difficulty and engaging with residents facing cold homes and rising bills — he has seen first-hand the pressures that push people out of architecture, and why the support the ABS provides has never been more important.
We're glad to have a Committee Member who brings that perspective to the table.
Welcome, Arjun.
Two weeks to go - and the excitement is building!
Bake the World a Better Place 2026 is just around the corner. Mental Health Awareness Week runs from the 11th–17th May 2026, and we're asking the architectural community to come together, get baking, and take action for mental health.
Our community baking day is Wednesday 13th May - but any day during the week works perfectly.
- Here's what you need to know:
Not registered yet? There's still time - sign up at the link in bio
Pledge by 5th May to get your event goodie box delivered in time
Share your bakes using #BakeTheWorld2026 and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
Every bake counts. Let's make some noise for mental health.
Interested in sponsoring? Drop us a message at [email protected]
#BakeTheWorld2026 #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #Action #ArchitecturalCommunity #ABSnet
We are delighted to introduce @jogreenoak as our latest ABS Ambassador - bringing over two decades of experience in architecture and design operations, and a deep commitment to the people who make up our profession.
Jo has built her career helping studios run better - working hand in hand with practice leaders and teams on everything from organisational structure to everyday ways of working. She knows what it looks like when a busy studio is under strain, and she knows what it takes to help it find its footing again.
But it is her focus on the human side of practice that makes Jo such a natural fit for the ABS community. She cares deeply about wellbeing at work, about the quality of communication within teams, and about leaders building cultures where people can genuinely thrive. Central to all of this is a conviction that nobody in the industry should feel they have to face difficulties on their own - a belief that aligns closely with everything ABS exists to do.
We are very glad to have her on board.
ABS Ambassadors play a vital role in our mission - championing the support available to architectural professionals and their families during difficult times and helping us extend our reach further across the profession.
If you are interested in becoming an ABS Ambassador, we would love to hear from you: [email protected]
Bake the World a Better Place 2026 is here - and registration is NOW OPEN!
Join us during Mental Health Awareness Week, 11–17 May 2026, for a week of baking, bonding, and showing up for mental health.
This year's theme is Action - and baking is one of the most meaningful small actions you can take. Bring your team together, bake your favourite treat, and help us raise vital funds for ABS services.
- Baking Day: Wednesday 13 May - but feel free to bake any day during the week!
- Register now at the link in bio.
- Pledge by May 5th to receive your event goodie box.
Post your creations using #BakeTheWorld2026 and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek - let's create a wave of positivity, one bake at a time!
Interested in sponsoring the event? Get in touch at [email protected].
#BakeTheWorld2026 #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #Action #ArchitecturalCommunity #ABSnet
We are thrilled to welcome @scottbattyarchitect as our newest ABS Ambassador - an architect, educator, and lifelong builder who embodies everything our community stands for.
Growing up the son of a Lincolnshire carpenter, building sites were part of Scott's life long before architecture school. He went on to volunteer with Frontiers Foundation in Northern Ontario, helping Indigenous communities construct timber-framed homes, and with APARE restoring historic churches and a castle across France and Belgium. Trained at Leeds Polytechnic and the Bartlett, he co-founded the practice HUT and has spent 15 years at the University of Westminster developing innovative ways to connect architectural education with the realities of construction.
Crucially, Scott has spent much of his career mentoring young architects through the difficult transition from academia to practice - exactly the kind of support ABS exists to champion. We are proud to have him with us.
ABS Ambassadors are the beating heart of our mission - raising awareness of the support we offer to architectural professionals and their families in times of need and helping us reach more people across the profession.
If you'd like to find out more about becoming an ABS Ambassador, we'd love to hear from you: [email protected]
Architecture is only as strong as the people within it. That belief is what brought Elisa to ABS - and we couldn't be more pleased to welcome her as our newest Ambassador.
Elisa is an architect and urban designer with over 10 years of experience, working at MLA Architects in Edinburgh. Originally from Italy, she studied across Italy, Paris, and the University of Strathclyde. But alongside her technical career, she has become a powerful voice for the issues that affect architects behind the scenes - maternity and parents' rights, employment protections, and mental health across the industry.
Her own journey through professional uncertainty has given her something invaluable: the understanding of what it feels like to need support, and the drive to make sure others can access it.
That is exactly what ABS is here for. We provide confidential advice, support, and financial assistance to architectural professionals and their families when they need it most. Our Ambassadors help us reach further, connect more people, and ensure no one in our profession faces hardship alone.
Could you be an ABS Ambassador? We'd love to talk: [email protected]
We're thrilled to welcome Marc Cairns to the ABS Board of Trustees.
Marc is Associate Director of Place, Housing & Economic Investment at Scottish Futures Trust. With over 15 years of experience in placemaking and community-led development, he previously co-founded and served as Director of Place at New Practice (@_newpractice ), now part of Civic (@civic_thrivingtogether ) in Glasgow – a nationally recognised practice for creative placemaking and public realm design.
His connection to ABS is both professional and deeply personal. When his team faced bereavement, ABS stepped in with vital support. Since then, Marc has been one of our most committed Ambassadors and Supporters - twice raising the highest individual funds at our Chicken Run.
We're proud to have a Trustee who combines board-level governance experience with the lived perspective of someone whose life has been touched by the Society's work.
Welcome, Marc.
We’re pleased to share that Architects Benevolent Society is partnering with the National Free Wills Network (@nfwnetwork ).
This partnership means our supporters can have a simple Will written free of charge through a local participating solicitor, with ABS covering the cost at a special rate.
Having an up-to-date Will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect the people closest to you.
For over 175 years, Architects Benevolent Society has provided support to members of the architectural community facing hardship, ill health and unexpected life challenges. Legacies are one of the ways this long-standing support continues across generations.
Through this service:
• You are provided a list of your six nearest participating solicitors
• You become the client of your chosen firm
• There is no obligation to leave a gift to ABS
After you have provided for your loved ones, many supporters choose to leave a gift to ABS. Legacies play a vital role in enabling us to provide financial assistance, wellbeing and mental health support to members of the architectural community facing difficult times.
Even a small percentage of an estate can make a lasting difference to colleagues and families across the profession.
To mark Free Wills Month 2026, we're introducing this new service - a practical opportunity to put plans in place while helping safeguard the future of the profession.
Find out more and register your interest at the link in bio.
#FreeWillsMonth #LegacyGiving #ArchitecturalCommunity
Big changes are coming in 2026 to welfare benefits and employment law - ABS is here to help you navigate them.
Universal Credit rates are being updated, the two-child cap is being abolished, and significant changes are on the horizon for those receiving sickness-related benefits. On the employment side, the Employment Rights Act 2025 is gradually rolling out new protections for workers, covering a range of areas, including parental leave, sick pay, whistleblowing, and flexible working.
We've broken down what's changing, what it means for you, and how we're responding as an organisation to ensure our community continues to receive the support it needs.
If any of these changes affect you, or you're unsure what they mean for your situation, our team is here to help - reach out to us by phone 020 3918 8588, or email [email protected].
Read our full updates at the links in bio.
As ever, our commitment to supporting architectural professionals remains at the heart of everything we do. Staying informed is the first step - and we'll be with you every step of the way.
#Supportthearchitecturalcommunity #WelfareBenefits #UniversalCredit #EmploymentRights #EmploymentLaw
Today, on World Day of Social Justice, the @unitednations calls on us to reflect on the barriers that prevent people from living with dignity, fairness, and equal opportunity.
Social justice isn't an abstract ideal - it's a lived experience. In the architectural profession, it shapes who gets to study, who gets to practise, and who gets to thrive. Economic hardship, discrimination, disability, or personal crisis can sideline talented people at any stage of their career, and too often those challenges go unseen.
At ABS, we believe that a fair profession is one where every member of the architectural community has access to support when they need it most - whatever their background or circumstances. From financial assistance to mental health and wellbeing support, we're here for the people who shape our built environment.
Justice begins with showing up for one another. If you or someone you know in the architectural community is struggling, reach out to us.
ABS Helpline: 020 3918 8588 / absnet.org.uk
#WorldSocialJusticeDay #SocialJustice #ArchitecturalCommunity #MentalHealthSupport #BuiltEnvironment
