Seeds of Change

Police Mutual, which has been helping serving and retired Police Officers, Staff, Specials and their families with their finances for over 140 years, recently completed the first portion of applications for its 2016 Force for Good national community sponsorship programme and Seeds of Change was selected to receive a share of the £40,000 pot.

Seeds of Change is the brainchild of serving Sussex Police Officer Paul Sellings. His innovative idea is to reintegrate young offenders back into the community, aiming to enrich their lives and build their self-confidence. Every Thursday morning the young people tend an allotment rented by Sussex Probation Services alongside professional staff. The produce generated by this inspiring initiative is given to the young offenders in return for their labours, as well as a local homeless shelter. Officer Sellings says the money received fro from Police Mutual will be put to good use: “The £250 will be put toward the purchase of seeds, clothing and equipment to ensure the maintenance of the allotment.”

Chris Everest, Sussex Police, East Division Integrated Offender Management Team says Seeds of Change benefits both the offenders and the community. “It is set up for those who are prolific and priority offenders (PPO’s),” he said. “From their engagement with the initiative numerous persons have turned their lives around and become employed, at college, no longer PPO’s, less or no drug use, better engagement with the IOM team (Police/Probation) and drug services and because of these things less crime and anti-social behaviour occur which does benefit everyone.”

Whilst Police Mutual is not-for-profit it is commercially run, and its financial strength and performance allows it to give back to its key stakeholder group, the Police. In 2011 it launched the Police Mutual Foundation to support the wellbeing of the wider Police family. Police Mutual invites the Police Family to nominate good causes in their local area that enhance the lives and wellbeing of the local community. Applications for Force for Good funding can be made for any amount up to £1,000 to support a local initiative in their community. Visit: http://www.policemutual.co.uk/forceforgood