1in4 Fund

What is the 1in4 fund?

The 1in4 Fund is so called because, according to the Health Survey for England, one in four adults have been diagnosed with a mental illness at some stage during their lives.

The purpose of the fund is to:

Provide funding to assist police forces with an opportunity to stimulate innovation and develop their capacity and capability to support the wellbeing of police officers and other frontline staff.
Contribute to an evidence base of “What Works” to share learning across the police service

Why do Police Care UK offer a 1in4 fund?

We believe that caring for their people is the duty of every police organisation. Our role is to compliment this care and help identify gaps through targeted services, projects and programmes.

As part of our commitment to reducing the impact of harm on police and families, we provide funding for local initiatives designed to improve overall wellbeing at force level. Research published by the Police Dependants’ Trust in 2016, Injury on Duty, identified a need for additional mental health support, and so we want to enable forces to access the resources and funding they need to do this.

How do police forces apply for the 1in4 fund?

All police forces in the UK are eligible to apply and anyone within a police force can submit the application, however it must be signed off by a Chief Officer before it is submitted. Any incomplete forms without the necessary authorisation will be rejected.

If you submit an enquiry for the 1in4 fund we will contact you to talk you through the application process and assist you with shaping your project. Projects must be designed to assist in addressing formally identified gaps in provision, e.g. by undertaking a Bluelight Wellbeing Framework gap analysis or to address concerns/gaps identified via PEEL Inspections. Projects specifically focussed on improved mental health outcomes are likely to be prioritised.

Some 1in4 projects we have funded previously

Trauma resilience programme at Gwent

A £150,000 grant was provided to Gwent to fund the cost of creating and piloting an innovative and bespoke trauma resilience programme aimed at frontline staff and supervisors.

Resilience coaches project funded in GMP

120 voluntary wellbeing resilience coaches and mental health peer supporters have been recruited to recognise the signs of mental ill-health, with the dedicated support of a network coordinator thanks to a 1in4 Grant.

Frequently asked Questions

How much funding is available?

Applications for smaller amounts are encouraged, and those where forces are contributing to the costs of the project, especially match-funded, will be looked on favourably by the Trust. The maximum amount which may be awarded for any projects is £150,000 (over 3 years). Projects lasting up to 1 year can apply for a maximum of £60,000.

What assessment criteria do you use?

The Board of Trustees will be looking for, but not limited to, the following aspects of a grant proposal:

The originality of the idea and strength of the project concept
The potential impact the project will have on police officers and staff
The feasibility of the project and quality of the project management
Whether the project offers value for money
The evaluation plans and how any learning gained might be shared for the benefit of the wider police family

What will you fund?

We will consider funding:

Staff costs (including sessional staff)
Volunteer costs
Equipment
Training courses
Events to support the wellbeing of police officers and staff (excluding travel costs of beneficiaries)
Refurbishment of facilities which are clearly demonstrated to contribute to the health and wellbeing of officers and staff

What is the Blue Light Wellbeing Framework?

The Blue Light Wellbeing Framework is a sector-specific framework for the emergency services. This new Framework contains learning from across the services, academia and Public Health England to provide organisations with a self-assessment tool that sets a new standard for the emergency services.

More details can be found online by visiting https://oscarkilo.org.uk/

What will you not fund?

We will NOT consider funding:

Core or ongoing running costs
Overhead allocations
Costs of undertaking a Workplace Wellbeing Charter gap analysis
Capital works that add value to a publicly owned asset (eg force estate)
Statutory responsibilities
Overseas travel expenses
Personal debts
Grants to individuals
Legal costs
Redundancy payments