In the last two months, we have welcomed two new team members to the expanding Donor Engagement Team, Lisa and Pete. When writing the job advert, I remember thinking how hard it was to write down exactly what we do, as the role was just so varied - and the last two months have certainly proved the point!
April started with Zoe and I attending the Thin Blue Line Ball at the Imperial War Museum in Manchester. Gary, Andrea and the team did a fantastic job and the event was a huge success – we even managed to have a dance at the end of the night!
We then took the chance to get the Donor Engagement Team together to discuss the exciting & busy year to come - a rare opportunity when we are out on the road so often. This was held at Castlebrae, so a great chance for the team who are based at St Andrews to see our other centre and the fantastic new facilities and beautiful grounds.
April was a blur of recruitment events, from Stalls at Wellbeing events, to Student Officers and Pre-Retirement Courses. We are extremely thankful to our partners for giving these fantastic opportunities to share the benefits of donating to the PTC & SGPCT.
To better support these events, we are continually recruiting Ambassadors members of the Police Family who have benefitted from the Charities who are keen to spread the word with us! I am so thankful to the dedicated and enthusiastic Ambassadors we have who go out and about with the team. We are planning later this year to take to the road to tell you just how you could become an Ambassador for the PTC. If you think you can help support the work we do, please give us your feedback on our upcoming survey.
In the last couple of weeks, we have been inundated with Fundraising Heroes! As I am sure you have heard us all say before, fundraising for a Police Charity can be very challenging, and we rely heavily on support from the Police Family – help us to help you – so I am overjoyed that so many have stepped forward and put their cape on!
The Back on the Beat Cycle Sportive returned for its third year in May. The sportive was a well-attended success and the sun shone on North Yorkshire again! It really is a lovely event to run, when the sun is shining!, and I was very fortunate to get the chance to speak to so many of those that take part – thanks to all the riders and volunteers on the day.
The Sportive was also the first opportunity for our elite group of cyclists taking on the Cycleogical Bike Ride challenge in June to get together! Most of the 23 riders joined us to take on the meagre in comparison 60mile route, as a training ride for their 230ish miles in June, and to promote this fantastic event!
I am pleased to report they left, and came in as a team, and in a very good time so June is looking good! They really are heroes with their fundraising efforts, with everything from Dinner dances to supermarket bag packs! To support them, don’t worry I am not going to ask you to join them, you can sponsor them by texting PTCRIDE 10 to 70085 to donate £10.
The Cycleogical Bike Ride will raise funds for the expansion of our Psychological Wellbeing Programme. 1 in 4 officers, who attend our centres, currently do so to receive Psychological Wellbeing Support for mild to moderate stress, anxiety or depression as a result of a situation on or off duty. The PTC is a vital lifeline and confidential place of support for those officers who require help. In a nice link, the week after the Sportive was Mental Health Awareness Week, and we were out in force, supported by the clinical teams from both centres, at wellbeing events across our constituent area.
Despite having to wear a different hat every day, Lisa and Pete are settling in very well and are already out and about on the road, along with the rest of the team, speaking to new and existing donors about the benefit of signing up to the Police Treatment Centres and St George’s Police Children Trust – I am sure many of you will have met them already!
However, with MH Awareness Week still in mind, it is important to look after yourself as well, and a timely email during a busy week about wellbeing at work reminded us to take time for ourselves, after all, you wouldn’t let your phone battery run down, so don’t let it happen to you!
Have a good month all.
Fran
DRCE Supervisor
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