Page 8 - Federation Magazine: August/September 2015

Approaching retirement? Benevolent fund: Don’t miss out on here to help our special seminar n the last year the West Midlands Police HOW THE BENEVOlENT a floral wreath or a donation of £45 to a Benevolent Fund has handed out more The fund also give grants to deceased Ithan £31,000 in gifts and grants to help FUND HElPS nominated charity. members facing financial difficulties. member’s children. Anyone under 16, or 18 Members approaching retirement are being l Managing change and uncertainty a start at 9am. A buffet lunch is provided and While over the last 10 years, it has Charitable grants - for members who find if they are in full-time education, will be urged to attend special seminars organised l CV writing and interview techniques the seminars finish at around 4pm. supported thousands of people through themselves with sudden illness, unforeseen entitled to £25 per week. by West Midlands Police Federation. l Transferrable skills Spaces are limited so please let the difficult times with grants and loans expenditure or financial hardship. loans - for members suffering financial The next available seminars are on 24 l Pensions/state pension Federation office know as soon as possible if totalling £1 million. There is no set criteria for grant approval hardship through unforeseen circumstances September, 22 October, 19 November and l How do I manage money and these you would like to attend. The fund’s chairman is now urging all because every case is considered on its own or with nowhere else to turn. The fund can 10 December. They are all on a Thursday and financial changes? Simply email sjennings@westmids. members to spread the word about the merit. Here are some examples of the types offer an interest-free loan which is repaid are held at Guardians House in Sheldon. l Budgeting polfed.org with Retirement seminar and the benefits of membership which costs just £2 of applications approved: direct from a member’s salary for up to five “We strongly recommend that you make l Starting your own business date you want to attend in the subject line. a month. l A stair lift fitted for a member who was years. If the fund cannot help with a loan, the most of this valuable opportunity to l Taxation The email needs to include your name, work “We want to increase membership so struggling to make ends meet it can assist with debt counselling or point shape your future,” says Steve Grange, l New horizons (what’s next?) and personal email addresses, personal that we can help more people in times of l Adaptations fitted to a vehicle of a members to other agencies and charities secretary of West Midlands Police l Savings telephone number, proposed retirement date need,” says John Williams. retired officer who had suffered life- that can help. Federation, “They are open to anyone with l Investments and finances and number of places needed, if you want to “During the last year, we’ve given out changing injuries in a police-related RTA Medical consultations - If you’re a member up to 18 months’ service left.” l Protecting your wealth. take your partner. more than £31,000 in gifts and grants to l Flights and contribution towards living paying £5 per month, or £3.75 if you are Among the topics to be covered at the Each seminar begins with coffee and You will then receive a confirmation of help members through difficult times. We’ve costs for the family of an officer injured retired, you are eligible for private medical seminars are: registration between 8.30am – 8.45am with your booking. donated nearly £25,000 to widows and in a skiing accident abroad consultations of up to £600 per calendar orphans and more than £4,000 has helped l Contribution to the cost of an officer’s year. You may want to go for a consultation to support members with convalescence,” he rehabilitation following a stroke with a specialist or to get a second added. l Adaptation to a member’s house opinion, or don’t want to wait for an NHS “If every serving member recruited a following illness. appointment. colleague, it would raise an amazing £6,000 Death grants - this year the fund has Help with convalescence - if a member’s a month to help people in the West Midlands increased the death grant to £3,500 for doctor thinks that convalescence or rehab police family.” serving police officers or police staff. will help them, the fund has several options Recommend a friend or colleague who When the fund receives a copy of the death that may assist. works for WMP and the Fund will reward you certificate, a cheque will be made payable Sickness vouchers - if a full member is if they join before December 2015. to the nominated beneficiary. Their named unable to work for more than 21 days l Sign up one friend for a free travel mug beneficiary is recorded on their membership consecutively through sickness, they will be l Sign up three friends for a £5 shopping card. entitled to claim £30 in shopping vouchers. voucher A deceased member is entitled to A member off sick for more than l Sign up five friends for a £10 shopping four months can claim a second voucher voucher but can’t claim more than If you want to sign up two vouchers in any one year. a police colleague, go to For full details – including http://www.wmpben.co.uk/ how to join and how to claim how-to-join/join-a-friend/ the benefits offered – please visit the Benevolent Fund website at wmpben.co.uk Feedback from past attendees “An excellent forum and opportunity to help prepare for the transition to retirement.” “I found the day was informative “A very useful and informative PC McGoldrick with each speaker outlining just course which has made me give “Thank you, a really useful what you needed to know in the serious thought as to what to and informative day, well simplest of terms on each topic. A do with my pension money and worth giving up a rest day ‘not to be missed’ seminar for those how to protect it.” for!” “ coming up to retirement.” PC Tonks “ PC Collins 08 federation August/September 2015 www.westmidspolfed.com