Where has the last year gone? Suddenly it’s my turn again to compile a blog! For those who don’t know me, I am Liam Kelly, the proud Chair of the Board of Trustees for The PTC and The Police Children’s Charity. It is always a pleasure to be able to provide an update on the Charities’ goings on and future plans, so sit back, relax and afford me a few minutes of your time.

Since my last blog, although COVID-19 is still very much with us, I am pleased that both Centres have fullyreopened and are operating at as high a capacity as possible whilst maintaining both Patient and staff safety. The Board of Trustees have been able to conduct their business again via face-to-face meetings at both Centres. It has been a great opportunity for attendees to positively engage in person with each other and our fantastic staff. The PTC Board of Trustees are committed and keen to ‘future proof’ our Charities so we collectively continue to work to seek new supporters and revenue streams, promote the ongoing need for new donors, re-evaluate what we can or could provide and exercise proper due diligence to ensure we are becoming more effective and efficient in how we do what we do. We have exciting ongoing collaborative work with Police Care UK Charity and are presently hosting bespoke pilot mental health programmes at our Harrogate site. We are very hopeful this will result in adding programmes that will complement and enhance our existing services. We are also developing a bespoke wellbeing programme specifically for Retired eligible donors.

But both our Charities continue to need help. They need more supporters and Ambassadors to raise awareness and promote what we provide, to share the positive news and encourage as many as possible to donate so that both Charities can continue to evolve and grow and provide the ongoing assistance and fantastic support that’s needed both now and in the future.

We were hoping to hold an ‘in person’ Back on the Beat Cycling fundraising sportif but this had to be cancelled due to a reduced number of participants. We are fully aware that the Charity fundraising sector is a competitive market, however, I would directly appeal for Serving and Retired Officers to engage with and particularly support Police Charities.  As always, if any of you are looking to jump out of a plane, wrestle a lion, run a marathon (or several!) or do any sort of challenge, please keep both the PTC and The Police Children’s Charity in mind as beneficiaries from any fundraising. Fundraising is an integral part for both Charities to continue to be sustainable in the long term. The DRCE team at Harrogate would be delighted to provide assistance and support to you if you do decide to fundraise, so please get in touch!

In the last few months, two of our Senior Management Team retired. On behalf of the Board, I wish to formally thank both Deputy CEO/ Castlebrae Centre Manager Paul Grant and our Human Resources Manager Steve Cook, for their long and valued service. I also wish to extend a warm welcome to their replacements – Andy Malcolm and Fiona Warrington.

Things are on the up already as the meeting in Scotland earlier this month was blessed with fantastic weather (visiting Board members were asking what the ‘big yellow thing’ was in the sky!). In my seven years attending Scotland, I can testify that our meetings are generally accompanied by a healthy shower of rain (and on occasion a monsoon!) 

It’s time for me to finish this blog. I hope you can see that both Charities are relevant and are making a positive impact within the Police Family. I urge you to keep promoting and supporting us so we can keep doing what we do.

I finish with some life advice from Paulo Coelho:

“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too”.

Take care and keep safe.

Liam Kelly

Chair, Board of Trustees for The PTC and The Police Children’s Charity.

 

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