Police charity delivers over a thousand ‘OK’ cards through staff lockers
If you arrived at Lloyd House for work yesterday morning (Monday 3 November) you may have been greeted by a small postcard peeping out of the top of your locker. That is because our team were busy posting over 1,000 bespoke Oscar Kilo cards through colleagues’ lockers
over the weekend.
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’re asking colleagues to look out for each other and seek help if they need it. Hopefully the cards explain what our charity can offer colleagues. If you’ re not already a member of our police charity, maybe now is the time to join. Membership to the Ben Fund is a minimal £2 per month and offers a lifetime of benefits,” explains Ben Fund Chairman, John Williams.
“We are delighted to receive the support from our Patron the Chief Constable and the National Police Welfare Service to roll out this initiative, ” he added.
“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.
“Since delivering the postcards through the lockers across the force we have seen an uptake in membership which is terrific.”
So far this year the Benevolent Fund has awarded;
- £40,000 in grants
- an additional £15,600 to police widows and orphans
- £4500 through the charity’s sickness voucher scheme to support those off work due to illness or injury
- £35,000 on sending members for residential physiotherapy or wellbeing breaks at the treatment centre St Michael’s Lodge
- £8600 on mental health support offering online counselling sessions delivered by a team of psychotherapists at St Michael’s Lodge
In addition, this year;
- 79 police families have enjoyed a discounted seaside break at one of the charity’s holiday homes in Dorset or Dartmouth
- a further 80 people have enjoyed their family adventure day at Blackwell Court back in May
- 146 officers and staff have been referred to the Ben Fund’s FREE Will Writing Service.
The wellbeing of serving and retired West Midlands Police officers and staff is our main priority.
The charity recognises that distressing life events, ill health, injury, or financial struggles can affect its members. Only last Friday, (31 October) at our Trustee’s and Operations Committee Meeting support totalling £13,000 was approved to help members in need.
For just £2 per month our police charity provides 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.
Not a member yet? Why not join today!
