ROA News Alerts
October 2024
Charity for Civil Servants’
Talk Money Week 2024: Do One Thing
To receive regular updates on the money advice available from the Charity, as well as how you can get involved and support their work, sign up to stay in touch.
October 2024
Please click here to read the MDPROA News Update for October 2024.
October 2024
Important Message from Pan Am 103 Lockerbie Legacy Foundation
Please click here to read an important message from Pan Am 103 Lockerbie Legacy Foundation.
The Foundation is seeking all Lockerbie ‘victims’ to register an interest by 9th October 2024.
September 2024
MDP ROA August 2024 Newsletter
Please click here to read our latest Newsletter.
August 2024
Police Care UK
As you will know,
Police Care UK is an independent charity, and operates to assist both serving and
retired police officers, police staff, and police volunteers (including cadets), across all UK police forces, who have been ‘
harmed as a result of policing’. It provides
free practical, emotional, and financial assistance to individuals within the police family who are in need. Receiving no support from the state, it relies entirely on donations to deliver the assistance it provides.
Over the last few years, we’ve supported many retired officers, so please find attached;
February 2024
MDP ROA January 2024 Newsletter
Please click here to read our latest Newsletter.
January 2024
Minutes of our Annual General Meeting
Please click here to view the minutes of our AGM.
January 2024
Charity for Civil Servants
You may not realise it, but the Charity for Civil Servants is your national charity that’s there for you and other civil servants for the whole of your Civil Service career and beyond. From mental health struggles and relationship issues to bereavement or financial worries, the Charity gets it, and is there to provide help and support.
The Charity’s 30-minute sessions provide vital information about the free services and support they provide. See the full range of dates and times and sign up now; why not encourage as many of your colleagues as possible to register too?
November 2023
The next Annual General Meeting & Reunion will be held at the King Robert Hotel, Glasgow Road, Stirling, FK7 0LJ from Friday 11th to Monday 14th October 2024.
Please click here to download the booking form in PDF format.
Alternatively please click here to download the word version of the booking form (please note the form will appear in your devices ‘Downloads’ folder.
September 2023
Police Care UK
Support in retirement and ill-health retirement – please click here to read more.
Police Care UK – formerly known as the Police Dependent’s Trust – is the charity for serving and veteran police officers, staff, volunteers, and their families, who have suffered physical or psychological harm because of their policing role.
As the charity receives no money from the Government or forces for it’s work, it is entirely independent of the police service and is funded exclusively by donations and fundraising.
If you would like to discuss the practical, emotional, or financial support Police Care UK can potentially provide, please make a referral via our website –
www.policecare.org.uk – or call 0300 012 0030 and ask to speak to a member of our team.
July 2023
Please click here to read our latest newsletter.
June 2023
The DPF have asked if we could circulate the attached Circular 21/23 which draws attention to a change in solicitors handling the Pension Discrimination claims. The claims were successful and solicitors secured compensation payments for eligible members who in 2016 signed up to be part of the action.
However a number of these members have since retired and may be unaware of the compensation payment which they may be eligible to receive. These retired officers may also have changed their email address so are not receiving the correspondence from solicitors to enable the claims to be paid.
The new firm of solicitors – Thompsons – handling the claims require the consent of individual members in order to process matters.
Any ROA member who signed up to the claim in 2016 is requested to take action immediately as outlined in the attached circular –
please click here to view.
May 2013
Blue Light Card
We’re proud to support the emergency services, NHS, social care sector and armed forces
Blue Light Card provides thousands of amazing discounts online and on the high street exclusively to those in the NHS, emergency services, social care sector and armed forces.
What is Blue Light Card?
Costing just £4.99 for 2-years access, our exclusive range of over 17,500 offers (including all of your favourite brands) are here to help you save!
Whether you’re doing the weekly shop, treating yourself to cinema tickets or a meal out, looking for the latest tech or fashion must-have, or are hunting down the best discount on a new car or summer holiday, finding a discount to cut the cost of your shop has never been easier!
How can I start saving?
Head to Blue Light Card to sign up, or download the Blue Light Card app (available for free in the App Store or Google Play store) and register there.
Once you’re account has been approved, just log in to start saving online or – if you prefer to shop in-store – you can instantly access a digital copy of your Blue Light Card via the app to show at the checkout. We’ll also send you a physical copy shortly after.
How do I prove I’m eligible?
Blue Light Card is an exclusive service to those in the Blue Light community, social care sector and armed forces. Therefore, you’ll need to provide a copy of your pension statement showing your role within the Police during registration to be accepted.
How is Blue Light Card different to showing my ID?
Blue light Card allows you anonymity and means you don’t have to use your ID pass in public.
Our dedicated team also works hard to secure and develop our partnerships with retailers (regardless of whether they’re a household brand name or a local business) to offer exclusive discounts to our members.
Visit Blue Light Card to find out more about some of the savings you can access as a member.
April 2023
Charity for Civil Servants: ‘we not me’
As a civil servant you know you’re part of something much bigger. A community of people who care about each other. The Charity for Civil Servants believes that everyone in the Civil Service is more than just a ‘me’. You’re part of a huge community of people that care about each other, and support each other.
And when life gets tough, we want you to know that you’re not alone. The Charity for Civil Servants can help connect you to the right help. And through us, you can also lend a hand to colleagues who need it too.
This Charities & Partners Week, why not sign up to receive regular updates from your charity into your inbox. And if you know anyone else who could benefit from hearing about the Charity for Civil Servants, please let them know.
By supporting your charity, you can help colleagues in their times of need – we’re your charity, and we’re here to help.
March 2023
Simple Budget Calculator from Charity for Civil Servants
Make a positive change to your finances this year
As most of us move away from using cash, keeping track of our money can quickly become a challenge if we’re not regularly checking our bank accounts.
Taking an active approach to managing finances can prevent stress caused by accidental overspending. By tracking your weekly expenditure using The Charity for Civil Servants’ Weekly Spending Diary, you’ll get a better idea of where your money goes and it’ll help you figure out where to cut back. You can also check if your online banking app has a useful money-tracking and budgeting feature.
Once you’ve calculated your weekly spending, you can then use the Charity’s simple Budget Calculator to get an overall picture of your financial health and receive advice based on your results.
The Charity for Civil Servants supports all current, former and retired civil servants throughout their lives, listening without judgement and offering practical, financial and emotional support.
Feb 2023
Increase in Pension Announced
Government has confirmed that Civil Service pensions which have been in payment for a year will be increased by 10.1% from 10th April 2023 in line with the September to September Consumer Price Index.
Oct 2022
The next Annual General Meeting & Reunion will be held at The Queens at Chester, City Road, Chester,
Cheshire, CH1 3AH on Friday 6th to Monday 9th October 2023. Please click here to download the booking form.
August 2022
An update regarding ROA annual subscriptions can be found here.
August 2022
Please click here to read the ROA Newsletter for August.
July 2022
Force Magazine – Talk Through
Members will be aware that for the past two years the Force Magazine TT has not been printed in hard copy and only been accessible on-line in digital format. In fact the last one to appear was Issue 171 in July 2021.
We have now been advised about a decision taken by the Ministry of Defence that printed publications such as newspapers, magazines, promotional journals including marketing & communication materials are to cease and from now on digital issue publications should be the default position.
This decision has impacted on MDP and in effect means that Talk Through will no longer be published. Instead the Force will publish articles in ‘real time’ and sign post on their social media channels – Facebook, Twitter and You Tube. There are two other external channels – GOV.UK – the MDP Website and Medium – MDP Home page.
Both the GOV.UK and Medium channels are easily accessible and on the Medium channel you can sign up with your email address to receive an email whenever the MDP publishes something.
Naturally this move is disappointing to ROA as not all members are fully committed to the digital age and this is something we will take up with the force.
The external channels can be accessed by clicking on the following links:
GOV.UK
Medium
You Tube
Facebook and Twitter
For information the Editor of Talk Through Norman Hicks has very recently retired and attach his farewell letter to the Force can viewed
here.
July 2022
Pension Claims
You may be aware that the DPF have been running discrimination claims through the Employment Tribunal following the reforms to the public sector pensions in 2015.
Part of this process was to also lodge injury to feelings claims for all officers who initially signed up to be part of the DPF Claims.
The Government have now offered to settle these injury to feelings claims out of court and DPF have published a circular updating members of this and requesting that they ensure DPF hold their up to date address and contact details in order that they can communicate with individuals to seek acceptance of the offer.
There is every likelihood that some ROA members who have retired after the claims were lodged in 2016 may be due a compensation payment.
DPF circular 21.22 is included below for your attention and action if necessary.
Please click here.
March 2022
Please click here to view the letter from MDP ROA Chair Geoff Heal regarding the cancellation of our AGM / Reunion.
July 2021
The latest on-line edition of Talk Through has been published and can be accessed from the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/talk-through-magazines
MDP 50th Anniversary
You may already be aware that this year the MDP celebrates its 50thanniversary. Work is currently underway by staff in the Force Communications Department collating content, including information about MDP’s history for the anniversary campaign and would like the ROA to take an active part in the 50th celebrations.
ROA members who would like to contribute to the celebrations with interesting historical facts, pictures, quotes, stories, anecdotes (these could be told to camera as opposed to being written, like a vlog if easier) etc. that they might like to share and give permission to use on both the Forces internal and external communication channels are asked to get in touch with MDP’s Corporate Communications Department by email – mdpcorpcomms@gmail.com including a copy to our Liaison Officer Supt Sandy Stewart – alexander.stewart781@mod.gov.uk
February 2021
Dementia support from The Charity for Civil Servants
The Charity for Civil Servants have teamed up with Dementia UK to offer a new service.
If you, or someone you know, is affected by dementia, you can now access a range of specialist information and support. If you can’t find what you need on the site, you can request to speak directly to a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse at a time and in a way that suits you.*
Visit cfcs.dementiauk.org to get started.
Accessing the service should be done through a personal device in order to receive the best service. Should you have any queries about this service please contact Linda Eades, Head of Caring Services,linda.eades@foryoubyyou.org.uk
*subject to availability
January 2021
The Force has recently published its Annual Business Plan and Corporate Plan. It can be accessed from the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mdp-annual-business-plan-2020-and-corporate-plan-2020-to-2025
Please click here to read the ROA News (On-line Edition December 2020).
The latest edition of Talk Through has been published on-line and can be accessed via the link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/talk-through-magazines
Booking Form 2021 AGM Reunion
Our AGM & Annual Reunion is scheduled to take place during weekend 8th to 11th October 2021. It will be held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Harrogate.
The Booking Form can be found by clicking here.
PSPC News
11/09/2020
A briefing on the State Pension Triple-Lock has just been published by the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI). This examines in detail the current political debate about options that are under consideration for changing the mechanism in anticipation of a spike in the average earnings trigger in 2021. The PSPC Executive Council will be considering the issue of the triple-lock at its next meeting.
Click here for briefing paper
29/06/2020
We are sorry to announce the cancellation of our 2020 AGM/Reunion for the reasons outlined in letter by Chairman, Geoff Heal.
Please click here to read the Chairmans letter.
Talk Through
We are unable to circulate the latest edition of the Force Magazine ‘Talk Through’ however it can be accessed on-line via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/talk-through-magazines
Membership Services
We are sorry to announce that Hoseasons and Cottages.com have terminated their agreement with us. The company have told us that owing to the coronavirus pandemic they have decided to rationalise their business and cease working with any partner that doesn’t meet certain volume thresholds.
The Charity for Civil Servants: here for you
The Charity for Civil Servants supports all civil servants, past and present, throughout their lives, when times are tough, listening without judgement and offering practical, financial and emotional support. And they really do help with whatever problems you may have.
In these challenging times we want to remind you that the Charity is here for you. All our wellbeing support has been brought together in one easy place, giving access to online help, wellbeing webinars, the Wellbeing Hub and DogBot.
The Charity’s support covers a wide range of issues including Money Advice, Wellbeing and Caring.
We encourage people to sign up to receive regular updates and wellbeing content from us. Click here to sign up, and don’t forget to share this with colleagues.
You may find it helpful to visit the Charity’s website – www.foryoubyyou.org.uk – to find out more about its help and advisory services or to see how you can get involved; or call 0800 056 2424 for further information.
