Benevolent Fund: Your mental health matters

6 July 2026

Everyone can experience a deterioration in their mental health at some point in their life.

Mental Health Awareness Week was acknowledged in May and this year’s theme, set by the Mental Health Foundation, focused on “Action”.

“Action for yourself, action for others and action for all”.

In support of “Action”, West Midlands Police Benevolent Fund wants to remind members about the help you can receive from the charity.

“Action” to support you

The Ben Fund delivered approximately 5,000 ‘Before you go home – Are you OK?’ postcards through officer and staff lockers.

You may have noticed one sticking out of your locker or perhaps you were handed one at a recent wellbeing event held across the Force.

The postcards feature the Oscar Kilo checklist created by the National Police Wellbeing Service as well as details about the Benevolent Fund and its benefits.

The cards aim to provide a gentle reminder that the Ben Fund is there to support the physical and emotional wellbeing of its members by providing:

• Access to grants and interest free loans in times of hardship or distress or if an unexpected life event is negatively impacting your life and subsequently your mental health.
• Counselling sessions from a professional team of psychotherapists at St Michael’s Lodge – members can receive up to eight online sessions. They are trained in many areas of counselling, including: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), person centred therapy and bereavement counselling.

The fund operates a self-referral system that means there’s no need to go through your line manager at work. Your application will be made directly through the Ben Fund, ensuring your self-referral remains totally anonymous. The team of dedicated counsellors will be in touch to discuss the best course of treatment or therapy. Once you are assessed, you will receive the psychotherapist most appropriate.

PLEASE NOTE: You MUST be a member for at least six months in order to apply.

• The fund offers a five-day residential wellbeing break. This is tailored to meet the individual needs of members. The programme includes meditation classes, holistic treatments and classes run by a fitness trainer at St Michael’s Lodge, including stretch, Pilates and aqua. Additional holistic treatments include mindfulness, massage, Ai Chi and alternative therapies.
• A sickness voucher scheme - Don’t forget if you’re currently off sick due to illness or injury or have just returned back to work after a period of absence you can claim for sickness vouchers. You must be off for 21 consecutive days and be a member for at least 6 months before applying.
• If financial worries and mounting debt is affecting your mental health you may find it helpful to speak to fund partners, PayPlan. You can speak to them for free – each one of their advisers have been trained to spot the signs of mental health problems and support mental health wellbeing. They are also experienced in providing practical solutions to problems with debt.
  Call them on 0800 072 1206. They’re open from 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 3pm on Saturdays. Alternatively, you can visit
  www.payplan.com/westmidlandspbfc to speak to them via live chat or for more information.

For more information or help, you can visit websites such as Anxiety UK, Mind, CALM and the Samaritans which each provide support to anyone experiencing mental health problems.

Please don’t suffer alone, take “Action” today.

For more details about the West Midlands Police Benevolent Fund, including the membership benefits visit the website. 

Please get in touch if you wish to change your beneficiary nomination or to update your personal details. If you’re not currently a member of the fund you can join online.