SPRING 2017 | Issue 26 Centre Pages: FIRST SPECIAL CONSTABULARY LGBT+ CONFERENCE Finally, as usual, a big thank you to all of you who have submitted articles for this WELCOME issue. From swimming with dolphins in Florida to home Tina Shelton Welcome to Edition improvements and new cars, four officers share Editor 26 and as Spring is upon us we have how they enjoy their maturing savings plans some upcoming events to look forward in the first Since Police Mutual was established in to help and support Police Officers and part of this year 1866 their families in times of hardship a lot has changed, but one thing has remained the where we can raise same, encouraging and enabling members to save regularly. Police Mutual understands awareness of the that financial security is central to a person’s overall wellbeing and that building up Citizens in Policing. savings and avoiding debt positively contribute to this. In 2016, more than 3,800 new Police Mutual members started the savings habit, and in total the organisation paid out The centre £63.7m on maturing plans. pages of this edition celebrate the To bring these impressive statistics to life, four serving Of why he saves with Police Mutual rather than a High Street first LGBT Conference+ for the Special officers share their personal experience of using a Police alternative, Nick explains: “I see Police Mutual as a very safe Humberside Specials celebrated at the “Keith Mutual Regular Savings Plan (RSP) and what it has enabled option. I trust them more because they are linked to the Constabulary and wider Citizens in them to do. police and you are also guaranteed to get your money back in any scenario, so no risk really. I have even encouraged Binks Awards” named after an ex Special Of getting into the savings habit Mark Garthwaite, a 50 year Policing. There was a positive uptake in my wife to sign up for a RSP with Police Mutual as she is old a Chief Inspector from Lincolnshire has been serving who used Criminal Injuries Compensation in entailed to do so through her family connection to me, terms of attending the conference with for almost 30 years and held a Police Mutual RSP for just meaning that our family gets the most benefit we can.” 31 Forces represented. 1985 to purchase a trophy to be presented as long says, “my parents installed saving in me, and when I started my police career the Sergeant recommended a RSP Mark Priest, 47 who has served for 21 years in South to the Special Constabulary officer of the with Police Mutual, so I signed up and the rest is history. I Yorkshire, has held various RSPs for 15 years, and his current Responsible Business week (from year. When Keith died a few years ago he currently save £65 a month through salary deduction; you plan is soon to mature. By putting just £10 a week into a 10 24 - 28 April) aims to put responsible don’t miss what you haven’t had.” year plan Mark will receive a lamp sum payout, and says, “I left the Special Constabulary money which was looking at changing car and decided to put my RSP He continues: “As I come to the end of my 30 years as an business firmly on the agenda, and the payout towards a deposit for a new BMW! I always wanted was used to establish 5 categories of awards officer and think about how Police Mutual has benefited me a nice car and I feel that now with the money coming I can week is an ideal way for companies to over the years, I look around my house and at photographs presented, as well as the original trophy, finally afford it.” promote their CSR and ethical business and smile at the memories that Police Mutual has given me. which goes to an overall winner. The smiles when my daughter had breakfast at Cinderella’s Second career police Constable trainer Mark Cole, 53 admits initiatives. Give and Gain Action days Castle in Disneyworld on her 6th birthday, the smiles on he wasn’t in the habit of saving money until he started will be taking place across the country family’s faces at barbeques sat on our garden decking, and working in police. He recalls, “I was very impressed by the the smile on my wife’s face when the dogs no longer make Police Mutual representative who came to our constabulary during responsible business week and the kitchen floor dirty as they are now dried off in the new to talk about savings and pensions. He made me realise is an ideal opportunity to promote SAVE THE DATE! conservatory! All of these smiles have been made possible that it was easy to start saving for the future of my family, Citizens in Policing National Workshop by the monthly savings plans I have held with Police Mutual, and since then I’ve opened twelve 10 year plans. I put £7 a Employer Supported Policing. Visit the which always seem to mature when we need them most!” week towards each plan and don’t miss the money at all; Tuesday 6 June 2017 I’d probably just spend it on take-aways anyway!” Mark also Nick Hall, a 35-year-old Sergeant from Birmingham who has Business in the Community website to enjoys the free life cover, which comes as standard with a at The Park Inn York 10:00-15:30 “always been careful with money” started putting money 10-year plan, and his eldest son got his mortgage with Police find out more http://www.bitc.org.uk/ into a number of RSPs with Police Mutual as soon as he Mutual. programmes/give-gain-day/get-involved- joined the police. He says: “I started the savings habit to earn a bit of money for a ‘rainy day’. By putting between £2 and Mark says of his current situation, “I always try to teach the give-gain £7 a week into different plans I never felt out of pocket and staff I train to save money. My next plan matures next year Follow us on Twitter knew I’d have a nice cheque to look forward to when the and I am very much looking forward to spending it on my National Volunteers Week is 1-7 @SCImpactMag plans matured.” He used the pay out he received last year wife’s 50th birthday party. She is the rock of the family and to build a dining room extension which opens up onto the deserves a bit of spoiling!” June this year, and within this week garden, making it ideal for family BBQs in the summer. His Find out more about a Police Mutual Regular Savings Plan at next plan matures this August, and his aim is to spend it on a policemutual.co.uk/savings-investments/ of celebrating the commitment and family holiday by the sea. service of volunteers is National Specials SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES If you would like to join Special Impacts Weekend (3-4June). We will be using the Push your savings hard: e-subscription list please email the editor: We’re open from #specialsweekend again this year for [email protected] 1. Call 0800 652 8986 8.30am - 5.30pm Mon-Fri those who engage with social media. 2. Visit policemutual.co.uk/savings-investments/ 2 SPECIAL IMPACT ISSUE 26 Police Mutual Assurance Society Limited is an incorporated friendly society. Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 6QS. Calls to 0800 numbers are free from UK landlines and mobiles. For your security, all telephone calls are recorded and may be monitored. OISApostad 04 17 What would be your ultimate goal More visible championing of what in life? female specials are capable of I am proud to have progressed to doing; positive case studies, positive where I am today in a relatively marketing materials – involve more short space of time. My focus is on female specials in recruitment/ continuing to promote the Specials selection/marketing. within the Regulars and break down any communication barriers so that Positively encourage females to we can be one big and successful progress through ranks, perhaps team. Ultimately if I can make a hold workshops for those who might difference here, and lead a successful be interested to dispel concerns and and committed team of Specials then be more informative around the I’ll be happy. Anything above this is a expectations of what the role of a bonus. supervisor involves Nationally 31% of Specials are More recognition and flexibility female and this proportion has not around those specials who have increased - having remained the other care/family commitments, for same at least back to 2010, and 36% THE GENDER GAP example, sometimes the celebrating of the overall national levers were of big hour contributions by young female. In some forces there are International Women’s Day took place last month and their training period. I assign the Special Constables to a single officers devalues those other fewer females promoted than their celebrated the social, economic, cultural and political Sergeant when they attest and generally look after them specials who give a lot but just have male counterparts, and the Specials achievement of women. The World Economic Forum until they have had their first few tours of duty and feel many more competing demands on Research shows that there are senior leadership teams appear to be predicts the gender gap won’t close entirely until 2186 and settled. I have also set up a sergeant’s forum and regularly less female specials in supervisory prominently male.