Information Regarding the NWPBF Subs Price Increase

Although for serving officers whilst the cost will show a monthly deduction of £9.32, this is deducted from the members gross pay total before tax is applied. Therefore there is tax relief on the £9.32 at the rate the member pays tax so the net result with regard to donations for a 20% tax payer, is actually £7.46 per month, and for a 40% tax payer, £5.59 per month.

• Purchase of new lodge in Cumbria
  
  
• Sale of Llanteglos Lodges
  
  
• St. Michael's Lodge in the Ribble Valley, Langho

Students from Nelson and Colne College presenting John Ainsworth
with funds raised for the NWPBF

Each month the payslips of the majority of our police officers will indicate a voluntary deduction to the North West Police Benevolent Fund. You may well ask, "what do I get for my money?".

Year on year around one in three police officers are injured whilst on duty. We hope this information will reassure all officers that their hard earned cash is being well invested.

The Fund Members

In 1974 when the North West Police Benevolent Fund was founded, it was believed to have been the first time in the history of the British Police Service that three large Police Forces had brought together independent welfare funds and combined them into one fund.

The majority of serving officers in the three constituent Forces, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, contribute to the Fund. Lancashire has also now joined NWPBF.

What is the Object of the Fund?

The object of the Fund is to relieve members and former members of the constituent Forces, their families and dependants who are in a condition of need, hardship or distress.

What the Fund Provides

In plain English - the fund provides the following services for members, their families, police pensioners, widows, widowers and surviving partners.

New Physiotherapy Service based at Mather Avenue, Merseyside Members may wish to take the opportunity of this new service being provided from the Merseyside area. Applications for this new service are now being taken. The application process is exactly the same as for St Michaels and forms should all be sent via your own force arrangements and then forwarded to St Michael's Lodge where the staff there will make the appointments for Mather Avenue. However, for applications to Mather Avenue, please ensure that the form is marked at the top clearly with "MATHER AVENUE APPLICATION" - this is only until the NWPBF are able to amend the current application form. The general application form and attendance guidance can be found on their website at www.nwpbf.org - then click on "publications".

The Treatment will be available on Wednesday and Friday at the Occupational Health Unit at Mather Avenue from 7th October 2011.

Convalescence

None of us know when illness or injury are going to strike and one of the most important reasons for serving officers to join the Benevolent Fund is to gain access to convalescent and treatment centre facilities should the need arise.

The Fund has made special arrangements for convalescent and treatment care - comprising accommodation and other facilities - based in five locations, namely Castlebrae, Auchterader; St Andrews, Harrogate; Llanteglos Hamlet, Pembrokeshire; Carnforth, Lancashire; and Windermere, Cumbria. Facilities vary according to the location, but include: convalescent and holiday accommodation (with meals or self catering); physiotherapy and hydrotherapy; leisure swimming pool; gym and a range of treatments.

At Llanteglos Hamlet, Carnforth, Lancashire and Windermere, Cumbria, fully furnished and equipped lodge style accommodation provides members with ideal facilities for both convalescence and (family) holiday use.

The St George's Police Trust

Part of the monthly subscription to the Fund goes to the St. George's Police Trust. This looks after the financial welfare of the orphaned children of police officers. Each child is paid a weekly allowance, dependent on the family's overall needs. A Christmas gift and holiday are also paid for by the Fund.

Loans and Grants

Officers and dependants (including widows, widowers, pensioners and surviving partners), who are in a condition of need, hardship or distress, can be helped by way of a discretionary grant or loan. (This does not include private healthcare).

Examples of how loans and grants have helped:

• A young serving officer seriously injured in a motorcycle accident needed both financial assistance and assistance to obtain specialist equipment. The fund provided the assistance.
• A serving officer in need of immediate financial assistance due to ill health and a shortfall in income, the Fund provided a loan which is repaid from salary each month.
• The child of a serving officer was born with a condition which required specialist equipment for day to day living, the Fund provided the financial assistance to purchase the equipment to make adaptations to the officer's home.
• A retired officer in need of a stair lift due to mobility difficulties, the Fund provided the necessary equipment.

Death Benefit

In the event of the death of a serving police officer, the sum of £5,000 is paid to the dependants within a working day of the notification of the death. Whilst appreciating that money is no consolation for the loss of a loved one, it is comforting to know that one's dependants' immediate expenses will be provided for by the Fund

Membership

The Fund collects contributions by the Payroll Giving System. If you are not yet a member of the Fund, please join now, and remember, the facilities of the Benevolent Fund follow you into retirement, and might just be a comfort to you and yours in the years ahead.

How do I apply?

Contact the Federation office or your local representative for more advice

For more information look at the website www.nwpbf.org

• NWPBF Application Form
• Guidance Notes for Applications / Applicants
• Guidance on the use of NWPBF Lodges for convalesncence/respite reasons

• Retired Officers Information
• Retired Officers Application Form