Physical health and fitness fund  

Living with physical injury, long term health conditions or the impact of harm caused by policing can make it harder to stay active, manage recovery or maintain everyday wellbeing.

The purpose of the fund

Our Physical Health and Fitness fund provides practical financial support for equipment or personal training, helping injured members of the police community, and where appropriate their families, to improve physical health, mobility and overall quality of life. 

Who this fund is for

You may be able to apply for a grant from this fund if you are:

• A registered serving or veteran member of the police community, or
• An immediate family member who is financially dependent on a registered serving or veteran member of the police community

In all cases, the application must relate to harm caused by a policing role that is registered with us.

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.

How we use key terms

Throughout our services, we use the following terms: 

  • Serving – anyone currently working or volunteering in UK policing, including police officers, staff and volunteers. 
  • Veteran – anyone who has previously worked or volunteered in policing, regardless of how or when they left the service, including those who left due to injury or ill-health. 
  • Family member – an immediate family member who is financially dependent on a serving or veteran member of the police community. 

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/ 
  • Where relevant, 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 Physical health and fitness fund can help with:

Practical support that improves physical wellbeing, including: 

  • Health and fitness equipment 
  • Personal training or supervised exercise programmes 

This list is indicative but not exhaustive. What matters most is how the support helps improve physical health, mobility, recovery or ongoing condition management following harm caused by policing. 

What is the maximum funding available? 
  • Grants are available up to £1,200 per application 
  • This is a one-off grant and can only be applied for once 

How to apply

Applications are open throughout the year.  

This fund can only be awarded once. 

Before applying, harm linked to policing must be registered with us, with supporting evidence.  

Where appropriate, we encourage joint or part funded applications with police benevolent funds or other charities, to maximise support and avoid 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: 

Complete our online application form or 

Request a paper application 

To get started, please complete our online enquiry form or contact the team by phone. 

 

Questions? Call us on 0300 012 0030  

Here’s a list of the type of information you will be expected to provide in your application:

Our welfare team can support you through the process and explain what’s needed at each stage. 

  • A clear explanation of why the funding is needed and how it will be used 
  • Income and expenditure details for you and your household 
To assess financial need fairly, we will ask for: 
  • Three months of recent bank statements (personal and joint accounts) 
  • Details of any savings or financial assets 
  • Three quotes for the equipment or training requested  
  • 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 repeat applications aren’t accepted. 

You won’t be eligible if you’re already receiving charitable funding for the same purpose. 

Yes. Our welfare advisors are available to support you and explain what information 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

Physical health support can play an important role in recovery; improving mobility,  building confidence, reducing pain and supporting long-term wellbeing for individuals and families affected by harm caused through policing.