Since reopening in April, the months have been a blur of virtual meetings, visits and events! Definitely a difference from the beginning of the year when we were working in an empty building!

Some of the highlights for me were two of our ‘Naming’ events as part of the opening of the new Clinical Services Wing. Firstly, we remembered Fiona Bone with the opening of the 'Fiona Bone Room' in the new wing. It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know the Bone Family over the years and this was also a fantastic way to mark their ongoing generous support of the Police Treatment Centres and St George’s Police Children Trust.

We then opened the PC John Kent Wing at St Andrews, named after a pioneer in British Policing. It was fantastic to meet members of the NBPA Committee and I look forward to attending their conference next month.

It has been refreshing to get back out to events in person and the team are now balancing the virtual and in person events as their diary starts filling up again. This month and next, we have a big National Recruitment Campaign which sees us out and about at Wellbeing Events, joining the Oscar Kilo Wellbeing Buses out on the road, as well as our Virtual Information sessions which are proving really popular. If you have been donating since joining or have recently joined under our Amnesty and are not quite sure what you are donating towards, check these out to learn more about how we can support you.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our fantastic Ambassadors who have helped us spread the word and who have been out on the road on our behalf. There is no better way to fully understand the benefit of attending the Centres than from someone who has experienced it first hand.

As the PTC normally takes up the majority of my working week, it was really nice to attend the COPS Annual Survivors weekend under the banner of the St George’s Police Children Trust. I met some of the families the Trust has supported in the last few years in the face of unimaginable circumstances. I also had the great pleasure in meeting West Mids’ Wellbeing Dog Truffles! Not sure who enjoyed the cuddles more!

One of the biggest changes to St George’s in the last few years has been the recent addition of the new Grants for Serving Officers. Lockdown was difficult for everyone in different ways but thanks to these new Grants, we have been able to help a family’s mental health and wellbeing after their most difficult and challenging year ever by funding a garden cabin. Read the full story here https://www.stgeorgespolicechildrentrust.org/news/TheStevensFamily?patient=1 

Being the first conference in my diary for almost two years, it was also lovely to catch up with some of the other Police Charities back on the ‘circuit’ whom I have missed over the last 2 years! The Police Charities UK group will be getting together in person (and virtually) at St Andrews in October and it will be interesting to hear how everyone has managed in the last year and how we can work together to better support the Police Family.

Looking forward, we are launching an exciting competition for St George’s inspired by the return of the Great British Bake Off! Whether it is a family bake that's been passed down through the generations or a brand new creation, send us your favorite Christmas bakes for our chefs to use!

Finally, I would like to wish Zoe from the DRCE Team all the best as she leaves next month to have a baby!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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