Are you OK?
You’re doing a great job and we’re here for you
Our team have been busy over the weekend posting a bespoke version of the ‘Oscar Kilo’(OK) postcards through the lockers at Parry Barr custody suite.
The cards feature a ‘Before you go home’ checklist, produced by the National Police Welfare Service on one side and a message from the Benevolent Fund listing its membership benefits on the reverse.
The ‘Before you go home’ checklist offers advice and an appeal to colleagues to check on each other and seek help if they need it, especially after a challenging shift or if their mental health is suffering.
“We are delighted to receive the support from our Patron the Chief Constable and the National Police Welfare Service to roll out this initiative,” explains our charity’s Chairman, John Williams.
“Police work, whether you are a front-line officer or a member of the police staff team can be very challenging at times and we all know a bad day or an accumulation of bad days can play heavy on your mind after a long shift and negatively affect your mental health when you return home.
“We appreciate how hard everyone within West Midlands Police works, whether you are a cleaner, a call handler, a member of the response team, a detective, and so on. That’s why we were keen to support the distribution of the ‘OK’ cards and produce a version that sends a gentle reminder to police colleagues that they are not alone and support is here.”
The wellbeing of serving and retired West Midlands Police officers and staff is our number one priority. Over £50,000 has been handed out in grants alone so far this year.
We recognise that distressing life events, ill health, injury, or financial struggles can affect our members. Only last month a grant was given to a police staff member whose wife needed a stairlift after a life-threatening condition.
“We currently have over 9,600 members and regularly recruit new members following presentations to student officers as part of their induction day at Tally Ho! However, we are keen to raise awareness across the various departments and reach out to all police staff as well as officers,” explains our General Manager, Steve Newbury.
“Even if you were once a member of the fund but decided to come out of it (for whatever reason), we would appeal to you to re-join. You are very welcome to become a member again,” he added.
PPU Commander, Tony Hopkins supported the roll out at Perry Barr over the weekend.
“This initiative has my full support. We have embraced the ‘Before you go home’ checklist here at Perry Barr by putting up posters from the Police Welfare service, however physically distributing a personalised version that features our very own police charity that staff can keep in their locker as a reminder, only reinforces how important it is for officers and staff to become members of the Benevolent Fund and seek help if they need it,” he explained.
The postcard rollout will continue to C3, Park Lane next month and the Ben Fund team will be available to speak to anyone who may be interested in joining or learning more about their membership benefits on Friday 15 August.
For just £2 per month we provide essential welfare benefits including;
- Death in service grant of £4,000 plus £25 per month to all surviving children until they reach 18 years
- Grants and interest-free loans in times of hardship or distress
- Residential physiotherapy and wellbeing breaks
- Online counselling
- Sickness vouchers to support members following 21 consecutive days of sick leave
- A free Will Writing service
- Exclusive Rewards of shopping, days out, holidays and more
- Discounted holiday at our two holiday properties in Dorset and Dartmouth
- Adventure days for members and their families, proving special memories.
For more details visit our website www.wmpben.co.uk
