Engineers building resilience: From 1890 to today
As engineers prepare for the year ahead, Foothold - the IET’s benevolent fund - reflects on over a century of supporting engineers and shares free resources to help members navigate life’s challenges in 2026.
The story begins in 1890, when members of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (now the IET) established a benevolent fund to support fellow engineers in times of need.
The first grant, £20 (equivalent to around £2,500 today), was awarded to Charles Capito, an IET member who had published papers on electrical engineering, mathematics and mechanics. While the details of his circumstances remain unknown, what’s clear is that he needed support - and the engineering community stepped up.
135 years later, Foothold are still here supporting engineers. In 2023/24, Foothold provided over 2,900 instances of direct support to engineers in 56 countries. Behind each number is a real person - just like Charles Capito - facing a challenge and finding strength through community.
You can explore Foothold’s history, including the engineers who helped establish the fund here.
Though not engineers themselves, the Foothold team is dedicated to ensuring that no engineer faces life’s challenges alone. Support is available to IET members and their families - whether active, retired, or former members - through means-tested grants and personalised guidance.
Foothold is here not only when life gets tough, but also to help engineers build resilience. Resilience is what equips us to bounce back from setbacks, stay steady through uncertainty, adapt to change and feel confident in facing whatever comes next.
And now, as we step into 2026, many of us are taking stock - of the world, our goals, our wellbeing and the challenges ahead. For engineers, the new year often brings fresh projects, shifting priorities and the pressure to keep pace with a rapidly evolving world.
Foothold also offer a wide range of free online tools for the whole engineering community, designed to help you stay well, plan, and take control of your circumstances.
Here’s a snapshot of what’s available:
- Monthly webinars on health, personal finance, and wellbeing
- Wellbeing Hub with free CBT programmes and practical advice
- Mental Health Check-in tool and sleep assessments
- Legal and financial factsheets
- Differently-Wired Hub for neurodivergent engineers
Explore these resources here and share them with a colleague or loved one who might benefit.
As you plan for the year ahead, remember resilience doesn’t have to be built alone. Whether you're navigating difficulties or simply strengthening your foundations, Foothold is here - just as it always has been. Let’s take on 2026, together.
