Police Officer
“The Benevolent Fund was a life line during a very difficult time. It ensured that my family were financially stable and it took away significant pressure and anxiety from a challenging period. We are very grateful that the Benevolent Fund and its representatives were so accommodating”.
David, Police Sergeant
“After attending Flint House the physiotherapist provided me with a rehabilitation programme for me to complete at home which required me to purchase equipment in order to continue with the treatment. I was unable to find the disposable income to purchase what was required and I was worried that I would not be able to continue with my rehabilitation due to not having access to the required equipment.
Without the Benevolent Fund Grant I would have not been able to purchase the required equipment and would have not been able to continue with the rehabilitation of my injury, resulting in it no doubt reoccurring and requiring either further treatment or even time off work as a result.”
Alistair, Police Inspector
“The Benevolent Fund were able to cover all my travel costs to and from Flint House, irrespective of whether I travel by train or car.
With the current cost of fuel to have this financial support was a great help and removed any worries or concerns regarding how I would be able to get to and from Flint House during my stay.”
Police Sergeant
“I have paid in to the Benevolent Fund since starting with the police over 12 years ago, and honestly I didn’t think much about it, incorrectly presuming it was just for people with serious/terminal illness. The Fund helped me purchase sensory equipment and furniture to support my son who has SEN. Within a matter of days my case had been heard and accepted and then within 24 hours I had received the money from the Benevolent Fund to purchase the new equipment – this was a huge relief to me and my family as it was the best part of £2000 that we would have had to find otherwise, in these the most trying of financial times. I am proof that you never know what can happen but it was a great relief to know that the Benevolent Fund was there for me when I needed it most”
Police Officer
“I have benefited from the Fund on many occasions, each time when I have gone to Flint House for treatment. The funds cover the cost of my train journey to and from Flint House, and also covers any accommodation on the night before my stay which has been very important when I have not been physically fit enough to make the long journey in one day.”
Police Officer
“I became a member of the Gloucestershire Constabulary Benevolent Fund when I joined the police and, despite paying a subscription each month for many years, I was not aware of its role or purpose. I suspect that many other police officers are in this position.
My wife was an NHS nurse for twenty-five years and eventually the pressure of this role caused her to develop severe depression and anxiety. She had to give up work which was a great strain on our finances. More significantly, she was suicidal which was a major concern. Her diagnosis was that she was not actively looking to take her own life, but if the opportunity arose, she might do so.
As I had to continue work to pay the bills and look after our two boys, I could not safeguard her 24 hours a day and so my wife went to live with her retired parents in Devon. My mother stayed with me to help on some of the days I worked and this continued for many months. One of my concerns was the desire to take my youngest child to school. However, due to working shifts, I was needed at work for 7am. My supervisor agreed that I could do the school run and start at 9am. Knowing that my son was safely at school was a great reassurance to me.
Since I have always enjoyed my police role, I believe my supervisor realised that it was a break for me from the stress of home life as, effectively, a single parent and being at work would be good for me. Also, having me at work was better for everyone than me going sick with stress. I was concerned that the late starts would have to end when time on my card for ran out, but a deal was struck to have a discounted rate. I remained under great stress and I was missing my wife, and the boys missing their mother. In order for us to have contact with her, I regularly drove with my boys to see her. Since her parents live in a two-bedroom flat we could not stay there so I booked my children and I into a budget hotel.
With our finances supported only by my salary this added expense was a worry. My supervisor at work spoke to me about the Benevolent fund, explaining that it might provide a grant to cover this cost as the visits would improve my welfare and my children being happy would also help me. I applied and was not only granted the money to cover the trips we had already made, but also a number of future trips.
My wife will say that these visits were a great support to her, helping to maintain our relationship, reminding her of our family life and reducing her recovery time. After many months, my wife returned home to us and, after several years, has now returned to full health and has a much less demanding job working in a coffee shop. Being the usual cynical police officer, I had always believed that ‘welfare’ in the police was just a tick-box to say that management had considered it. However, I can honestly say that the concern expressed for me was genuine and an enormous help to me.
The Benevolent Fund simply provided me with a grant but it is hard to express the importance of this: It meant that amongst all the worries and concerns piling onto me, the cost of being able to see my wife slowly get better was not one of them. Both the Gloucestershire Constabulary and the Benevolent Fund supported me in a way that helped me to bring my family back together and reduced the time that we were apart. I will be eternally grateful to both for providing me with support when I truly needed it the most.”