Page 9 - Federation Magazine: August/September 2015

Benevolent fund: here to help 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 nominated charity. Ithan £31,000 in gifts and grants to help FUND HElPS The fund also give grants to deceased members facing financial difficulties. member’s children. Anyone under 16, or 18 While over the last 10 years, it has Charitable grants - for members who find if they are in full-time education, will be supported thousands of people through themselves with sudden illness, unforeseen entitled to £25 per week. difficult times with grants and loans expenditure or financial hardship. loans - for members suffering financial totalling £1 million. There is no set criteria for grant approval hardship through unforeseen circumstances 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 members to spread the word about the merit. Here are some examples of the types offer an interest-free loan which is repaid benefits of membership which costs just £2 of applications approved: direct from a member’s salary for up to five a month. l A stair lift fitted for a member who was years. If the fund cannot help with a loan, “We want to increase membership so struggling to make ends meet it can assist with debt counselling or point that we can help more people in times of l Adaptations fitted to a vehicle of a members to other agencies and charities need,” says John Williams. retired officer who had suffered life- that can help. “During the last year, we’ve given out changing injuries in a police-related RTA Medical consultations - If you’re a member 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 help members through difficult times. We’ve costs for the family of an officer injured retired, you are eligible for private medical 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 www.westmidspolfed.com federation August/September 2015 09