Improving your wellbeing

One of our special partnerships is with the North West Police Benevolent Fund and their outstanding therapy centre, St Michael’s Lodge. The centre offers first class treatment for both mental and physical wellbeing, with a whole range of treatments, including physiotherapy, counselling, and holistic therapies.

Residential Wellbeing through the Benevolent Fund

We offer a five-day residential wellbeing break, which is tailored to meet the individual needs of members. The programme includes meditation classes, holistic treatments and classes run by a Fitness Trainer at St Michael’s Lodge, including Stretch, Pilates and Aqua.

Additional holistic treatments include Mindfullness, Massage, Ai Chi, and alternative therapies.

Set in the picturesque Ribble Valley, Lancashire, it is the perfect place for our members to visit if they need time away to improve their mental and physical wellbeing.

The Lodge has 30 bedrooms, with two of the rooms adapted for wheelchair users. All the rooms have TV, tea and coffee making facilities, fridge, hairdryer, and en-suite shower rooms.

There is a fully equipped gym for guests to improve their cardiovascular fitness and physical strength.

Relaxation is promoted with the beautiful orangery room overlooking open countryside, as well as, a comfortable TV lounge where internet access is available. There is also a quiet reading area to sit and unwind.

There is also a large heated swimming pool, sauna and a new yoga and wellbeing studio.

Outside guests can enjoy the landscaped garden, complete with patio area and hot tub.

Arranging your stay

If you have been a Benevolent Fund member for at least 6 months you can apply to stay for a short break. Your stay will include your wellbeing treatment sessions, meals, and accommodation.

Your mid-week stay can be taken Monday-Thursday, returning on Friday. Serving officers and police staff can apply to the Force for special leave to attend St Michael’s. Please speak to your supervisor about how to claim.

As the Fund is paying for your stay and treatment, we do not pay towards your travel costs.

PLEASE NOTE: Changes to St Micheal’s Lodge terms and conditions mean that members are not permitted to bring another adult with them unless they are registered as a fulltime carer. This is now included on the new application forms available via the links below.

Terms:

1. All applications will be assessed by the Benevolent Fund’s General Manager, Steve Newbury and once approved a referral will be made to the team at St Michael’s Lodge and they will contact you directly to arrange your visit.
2. You will be informed if further information is required.
3. Residential wellbeing breaks must be taken within 6 months of application.
4. Residential wellbeing breaks are individual breaks and are not open to partners, spouses, or dependents.
5. You will not be eligible to access a residential wellbeing break if you have received one within the past 2 years or if you have attended the centre for residential physiotherapy within the past 12 months or received online counselling within the past 12 months period.

To apply for residential wellbeing, simply download and complete the St Michael’s Lodge residential wellbeing application form, print, complete and scan back to us.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Please ignore the criteria stated on the online application form. This applies to members of the North West Police Benevolent Fund only. As long as your application for a residential wellbeing break is supported by your GP or a health professsional, we can process your application. 
• We are unable to process forms that have been converted to a word document or similar and edited. 

If you unable to scan your completed form please return by post. We are unable to process forms that have been completed and then photographed and emailed.

If you are unable to print the form, we can post you an application for your completion which you can post back to us, however this may delay your application being processed by around two weeks.

The application form needs to be signed by a Health Professional, such as an occupational health nurse, or nurse practitioner or your G.P and emailed or sent to the Benevolent Fund office.

Email completed form to info@wmpben.co.uk or post to Steve Newbury, West Midlands Police Benevolent Fund Guardians House, 2111 Coventry Road, Sheldon, B26 3EA.

Our FAQs will provide you with additional information that may assist your application. Go to the main FAQ section on our homepage.

What our members thought

“I just wanted to say thank you to WMP Benevolent Fund for my stay at St Michael’s Lodge. This has been a huge help on my road to recovery from a major operation and would highly recommend a stay at the treatment centre.

 St Michael’s Lodge was extremely comfortable and well equipped. The staff were magnificent and very knowledgeable. 

 I also wanted to mention the home cooked food that was provided. I suffer from Coeliac Disease therefore required gluten free meals. The menu on offer was varied and delicious.” Karen Burnham, retired WMP officer

“Having previously stayed at St Michael’s I knew the value of a visit to this facility; my health conditions are a life-long battle and having the opportunity to rest and recuperate with treatments tailored to my needs gives me a much-needed boost.

Being able to spend a week at this wonderful facility helps me to focus my attention on what I can do rather than what I can no longer do and how to improve my fitness, health and general wellbeing.

During my stay I was shown new exercises and treatment techniques that I can build into my daily routine at home. The practical advice and exercises are helping me to manage my conditions.

I received daily holistic treatments during my stay which included; mindfulness, massage, meditation, access to hydrotherapy, yoga, sauna and most of all, I enjoyed the peace and quiet and the beautiful surroundings of the Ribble Valley. 

This really helped me to find my inner peace and take time out to focus on myself and my physical and mental wellbeing.

I have returned from my week feeling revitalised, with a plan of action to regain my fitness and mental wellness. I feel ready to take on the world again!” Serving WMP staff

“I was fortunate enough to be accepted onto a five-day wellbeing retreat at St Michael’s to assist with my recovery after suffering significant physical and mental trauma sustained on duty. 

My circumstances were taken into account and a wellbeing package was designed specifically for my stay.  I was able to access physio, acupuncture, and a whole host of alternative holistic treatments I’d have never imagined of trying such as Pilates, Ai Chi , Meditation to name a few. 

The staff were all welcoming and very knowledgeable. Most importantly they all genuinely cared about you and the recovery journey you are going through. 

Accommodation was spotless along with amazing food and facilities provided.

I would highly recommend this service provided by Benevolent fund. Thank you so much to all involved in this charity.” Steven Kidd, serving WMP officer