Being a member of the fund for serving officers is £9.52 a month (£4.00 for retirees), however the actual cost to both serving and retired officers donating via payroll or pension is less than the headline figure shown. For serving officers, whilst you see in your pay slip a deduction of £9.52, this is deducted from the members gross pay total before tax is applied therefore there is tax relief on the £9.52 at the rate the member pays tax, the net result with regard to donations for a 20% tax payer, the actual cost is £7.62 per month, and for a 40% tax payer, £5.72 per month. In relation to retired officers , the donation is £4 per month. this is deducted from the members gross pension total before tax is applied therefore there is tax relief on the £4 at the rate the member pays tax, the net result with regard to donations for a 20% tax payer, is £3.20 per month, and for a 40% tax payer, £2.40 per month.

If you don't know if you are currently a member - check your wage/pension slip for a deduction of this amount listed against 'Benevolent Fund'.

Each month the payslip's 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?

In 1995 and up to the present day one in three police officers were injured whilst on duty. We hope this leaflet 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 (GMP, Cheshire Constabulary and Merseyside Police) had brought together independent welfare funds and combined them into one fund. Later the Fund was joined by Lancashire Constabulary and SOCA (Serious and Organised Crime Agency)

The majority of serving officers in the five constituent organisations, contribute to the Fund.

The object of the fund is to assist members when they are in need. None of us know when we, or members of our family, will find themselves in need - a family crisis, a sudden bereavement, an unexpected illness. Such things do not just affect pensioners, we are all vulnerable to life's events!

It is comforting to know that the North West Police Benevolent Fund is there to care and support. In plain English, the fund provides the following services for members and their dependant families, Police Pensioners and widow(er)s.

Click here for more information about the object of the fund.

Make a Regular Donation by Standing Order

Regular donations made by standing order help the Fund in two ways. First we save money on administration costs, so more money goes to help those in need, and secondly a regular income helps us to budget with greater confidence through the year. If you are a UK taxpayer and donate through Gift Aid, the Fund will receive an additional 28 pence for every £1.00 you donate at no cost to yourself.

If you would like to make a regular donation by standing order you may download a printable Standing Order Form.

The bookings for the 2013 season commence as follows:-

From 9 am on the below dates on 0161 355 4420 (***Please Note:- calls prior to 9 am will be discarded***)

St Michael's Lodge

Bookings available now

Carnforth site

Bookings commence from 9 am on Monday 14th January 2013 - (site re-opens 7th Feb)

Windermere site

Bookings commence from 9 am on Monday 21st January 2013 - (site re-opens 1st March)

****The initial bookings for Carnforth and Windermere sites are taken by telephone only, just for the first week the bookings commence due to the high volume of requests, after the first week it is possible to revert back to emailing your request, thank you for your co-operation in this regard****

If your enquiry in relation to the Ben Fund facilities can be done via e-mail please e-mail your request to jsmithies@gmpf.polfed.org

If the Ben Fund lodges are fully booked it may be possible to make use of the lodges owned by White Cross Bay site, Windermere at a preferential rate negotiated for Ben Fund members only. This must be referred via the Ben fund so please e-mail your request to jsmithies@gmpf.polfed.org

South Wales Lodges, Pembrokeshire

The Benevolent Fund has sold the lodges based in Llanteg, (near Tenby), South Wales however one of the lodges has been purchased by our colleagues in SOCA under their Care and Rehabilitation Scheme (CARS). The trustees of CARS are offering Benevolent Fund members access to their lodge on a rental basis only at reduced rates.

Members wishing to apply to book should contact David Johnston via e-mail at carslodge@btinternet.com

Tariff as follows:-

Off Peak - £295 per week

Peak - (July/ August and includes all School Holiday periods) - £425 per week

Bookings are normally from Saturday to Saturday however short breaks may be available on request. Bookings are being taken via e-mail from 2nd January 2013 onwards

The site owners will also offer a discount on their lodges for members should the above lodge not be available. Please contact the owners direct via e-mail at llanteglosestate@supanet.com or visit their website at www.llanteglos-estate.com.