The British Benevolent Society (BBS) is a 501(c)3 charity whose aim is to provide assistance to sick and destitute British subjects who are transient or living in California. We work closely with the British Consulate, and since 1858 our wonderful volunteers have helped hundreds of British citizens. The British Benevolent Society has it’s roots dating back into the 1850s and 1860s when in San Francisco a number of doctors, professional men and merchants met with the British Consulate to organize medical help and financial relief for distressed British Nationals. In 1958 this Relief Society was under the control of the Consulate, together with a Board of directors. The Consul and later the Consul-General served as President. The Consul-General continued as President until 1955 when the organization became independently run by the Board of Directors with its own nominated President. On April 23rd 1958 with the British Consulate, Sir William Lane Booker, this group of individuals became known as the, “British Hospital and Relief Society”. As the organization became established and helped more individuals in need, it expanded and formalized into, “The British Benevolent Society of California, Inc.”, with a mission to assist British-born subjects in distress or sickness. Today, “The British Benevolent Society of California, Inc.”, is a voluntary non-profit making organization with a Board of Directors controlling the distribution of funds. It plays a unique role in the British community in San Francisco and Northern California and is the only one of its kind to exist in the USA. It continues to enjoy cordial relations with the British Consulate-General particularly when special attention is needed with cases involving British nationals who have sought help through the San Francisco Consulate.