The purpose of the fund
Our Career Transition and Retraining fund exists to support injured members of the police community to plan, retrain, and move towards sustainable work, at a pace that works for them. Whether you’re still serving or have already left policing, this fund can help you take practical steps towards a new future.
It’s given me the chance to build a new skill set in a different industry at my own pace knowing the support is there.Serving police officer
Who this fund is for
You may be able to apply for a grant from this fund if you are:
• A physically or psychologically injured serving member of the police community (including anyone currently working or volunteering in UK policing, such as officers, staff, or volunteers)
• A physically or psychologically injured police veteran, including those who left the service due to injury or ill health
In all cases, the physical injury must be registered with us and linked to your policing role.
We want to help as many people as possible, and while we do have some eligibility criteria in place, our team is always happy to talk through your situation. Click on the registration information button to find out who we can support and what you'll need to meet to apply.
Would you be eligible for this fund?
Before you start your application it’s important to check whether you will be eligible for this fund and that you have all of the relevant information available to support your application.
To make sure support goes to those most in need, the following criteria also applies to applications for this fund:
- Your household income must be at, or within, 10% of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) Minimum Income Standard for your household. You can check here: https://www.minimumincome.org.uk/
- You must be receiving all eligible injury related benefits, which may include an ill health pension and/or an injury on duty award
- Your household savings and capital must not exceed £10,000.
The Career Transition and retraining grant fund can help with:
Practical support that helps you move towards new employment or self-employment, including:
- Education, training or retraining courses
- Equipment needed to complete a specific course or qualification
- Career or vocational coaching
- Business startup costs
- Equipment needed to support a new business
This list is indicative and not exhaustive. What matters most is how the funding supports your career transition and improves long term sustainability, taking into account the impact of your injury.
What is the maximum funding available?
- Grants are available up to £3,000 per application
- This is a one-off grant and can only be applied for once
How to apply
Applications are open throughout the year.
Before applying, you must be registered with us, and your registration must include evidence showing the harm caused by your policing role. We encourage joint or part funded applications with other police benevolent funds or charities where this helps maximise support and reduce duplication.
All applications are reviewed individually by our Independent Grants Panel, using the Joseph Rowntree Foundation Minimum Income Standard as part of the assessment.
You can apply online or by post once you have registered:
Here’s a list of the type of information you will be expected to provide in your application:
Our welfare team can talk this through with you, step by step.
- A clear explanation of what funding is requested and how it will support your career transition
- Income and expenditure details for you and your household
To assess financial need fairly, we will ask for:
- Three months of recent bank statements for you and any adult household members
- Details of any savings or financial assets
- Three quotes for training, coaching, equipment or other costs
- Information about other sources of funding already received or applied for
- Supporting evidence for your registered injury, such as an Occupational Health or medical report
- Details of any statutory support explored through the NHS or local authority (where relevant)
- Any additional information requested by your grants advisor
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Registration allows us to verify harm linked to policing and is required before applying for financial support.
No. This is a one-off grant and can only be awarded once.
That’s encouraged where appropriate. All other applications and outcomes must be declared, both before and after a decision is made.
Yes. Our welfare advisors can guide you through the process and help you understand what evidence is needed.
Grants are discretionary and not intended to be treated as income, but individual circumstances vary. We recommend checking with a benefits advisor or HMRC.
The difference this support can make
-
50%
said they wanted support with career retraining
-
34%
wanted funding for courses or qualifications
