Award-winning Police Mutual proves itself a Force for Good with £50,000 supporting local community projects across the UK
Tuesday, 28 June, 2016
Police Mutual, which has been helping serving and retired Police Officers, Staff, Specials and their families with their finances for over 145 years, has announced that Force for Good, its national community sponsorship programme, has awarded £50,000 in support of successful local projects throughout the country. In particular, 127 initiatives received grants ranging from £90 to £800.
Police Mutual is commercially run, yet not-for-profit. In 2011 it launched the Police Mutual Foundation to support the wellbeing of the wider Police family. The Force for Good initiative, which is funded by the Police Mutual Foundation, received1,376 applications during its second tranche of applications. Members of the Police family nominated causes that enhance the lives and wellbeing of their local communities, some of which they know through their local policing work.
Force for Good’s strong emphasis on giving back to the local community has been highly recognised, as Police Mutual recently received the Gold Award for “Best Alignment of Brand Values during a CSR Programme” at the prestigious 2016 Corporate Engagement Awards. Other winners at the awards included Marks & Spencer, Macmillan Cancer Support and Costa Coffee.
Stephen Mann, Chief Executive of Police Mutual, explains: “Now in its second year, it’s great to see even more members of the Police Family stepping forward to reward causes they feel improve lives within their communities. In many cases these see Police Officers, Staff and Specials themselves actively contributing their time to worthy courses outside of their professional Police work, which is fantastic to see.
We have been staggered and delighted by both the quantity and quality of applications received, 1,376 this time. The fact that Force for Good is increasing in popularity proves how much an initiative designed to bring communities together resonates with people throughout the country.”
Applications were received and grants awarded for a huge breadth of community initiatives spanning youth groups and activities; support for the vulnerable; gardens, farms and allotments; scouts, guides and cadets; crime prevention and community activities and facilities. The Force for Good grants will be put to a range of uses including sporting, musical and outdoor activity equipment; facility hire costs for youths and the homeless; gifts for vulnerable groups and even a 12-seat canal narrow boat!
Merseyside Police Force received the most funding with £3,850 awarded to 13 projects across the county. The Metropolitan Police Service and Hampshire Constabulary each had eight winning projects, which received £3,000 and £2,550 respectively from Police Mutual.
Hither Green based initiative, For Jimmy – Good Hope Cafe,received £500. The Good Hope Cafe provides work experience to young people in the Borough of Lewisham and contributes to the running of For Jimmy; a charity that promotes safety, peace and reconciliation among young people in South East London. The Cafe helps youngsters from disparate backgrounds to work together and learn important life skills while acquiring experience and qualifications to help them into their first job. The project has had substantial success working with young people with special educational needs, helping them progress toward independent living.
The Duffield based, Social History Photography Project, also received a £300 grant. The Social History Photography Project is a community liaison project aimed at older populations, who can come together and exchange life stories via the medium of photography. This culminates in a 12-week exhibition where the local community will be able to admire photographs that participants have taken. The project is part of the first ever arts festival in Duffield on 17th and 18th of September.
The next nomination window will run throughout September 2016. Police Mutual invites the Police Family to nominate good causes in their local area that enhance the lives and wellbeing of the local community. Applications for Force for Good funding can be made for any amount up to £1,000 to support a local initiative in their community.
See http://www.policemutual.co.uk/forceforgood for further details and http://www.policemutual.co.uk/campaigns/terms-force-for-good for full terms and conditions.
