Updated 25th January, 2010
British Forces Post Office
The government has decided to abolish the freepost for packages under 2kgs currently provided by British Forces Post Office which means that service families will now have to pay for all of their post.
please click on the link and sign the Downing Street petition (over 75,000 have already done so) and circulate the details to all of your friends.
The bold print below is what Sky News said about it.
"When the servicemen and women of our country are fighting and dying For this government's dubious honour, it treats them with the contempt It has shown across the board," he said.
"The BFPO has for decades provided a lifeline that is utterly vital in Maintaining morale and now they want to cut it.
"MPs have granted themselves £7,000 a year postage - but they seem to Be happy to put extra costs on service families. How typical, how venal, how vile."
Http://petitions.number10.gov.UK/SaveBFPO/
SCOTTISH POLICE BOWLING (RETIRED MEMBERS) ASSOCIATION
DATES AND VENUES
Sundays 2pm - 6pm
25 April 2010 Venue to be arranged in Fife (Fife Ex Presidents Association)
2 May 2010 Auchterarder Bowling Club (Auchterarder Bowling Club)
16 May 2010 Coatbridge Bowling Club (Coatbridge & District Bowling Club)
13 June 2010 B.A. Bowling Club Bainsford (B.A. Bowling Club)
4 July 2010 Dumfries Bowling Club (Dumfries & District Ex Presidents)
18 July 2010 Falkirk Bowling Club (Falkirk Bowling Club)
8 August 2010 Thornton Bowling Club (Thornton Bowling Club)
29 August 2010 Airthrey Spa Bowling Club (Airthrey Spa Bowling Club)
12 September 2010 Bathgate Bowling Club (Bathgate Bowling Club)
Please note that all of the above dates are provisional until Match Secretary of each Club confirms the summer schedule.
European Sport Police & Fire Championship Andorra 2010
The Sports Association of Special Forces of Andorra informs that between the 26th of June to 3rd of July 2010, they would celebrate in Andorra the European Sports Championship of Policemen and Firemen, Andorra 2010. More than 30 sports and parallel activities: you can get more information in the web site: www.2010policefire.com (video, photos, contacts, news ...) Policemen, firemen but also the city policemen, penitentiary centre officers, custom officers, port officers, mountain policemen ….can participate. Active or retired persons!
We thank you to inform all your colleagues of this event.
It would be the best championship with the best organization!
Joan A.Berenguer – Vice-President of the Sports Association of Special Forces of Andorra Organization Andorra2010.
REGISTRATIONS:
You can finally register!
Registrations to participate in the European Sport Police & Fire Championship Andorra 2010 are opened and will be formalized online through the web site .
Easy and secure! The list of sports and modalities will soon be extended as it is not yet definitive.
If you register now, you will be given a password that will allow each entrant the access to add some others sports without paying once again the initial registration fee. With this password you also could check all the data whenever you want.
Remember that places are limited for many sports and if you register before January 15th, 2010, the price will be cheaper (take into account for team sports or if you register in several sports!).
Competitors can participate in team sports /events in their category or in the youngest one if the rules of the chosen sport allow it.
For more information, consult the official web site: www.2010policefire.com
Fully Retired or Semi-retired?
You are eligible to join the University of the Third Age
The University of the Third Age is a unique and exciting self help educational movement for people no longer in full time work. It offers the opportunity to pursue learning for sheer enjoyment and for its own sake.
Retired people in many parts of Scotland get together to pursue and share their own interests; these could be learning a language, walking, science, computing, painting, architecture, art gallery visits or anything the member wishes. There are no qualifications offered and none asked for.
Currently there is an active U3A in Edinburgh and various other places and new groups in Orkney and Oban.
Have a look at our websites:www.u3ascotland.org.uk or the main site at www.u3a.org.uk
The Scottish site will tell you if there is a U3A near you and if not contact Robina Hutton, Development officer at e mail address:maryrhutton@hotmail.com or phone 01721 722455
Charity Board Member: Go Country Go Country Limited –is a charity established and operating for c10 years in supporting young people who face particular disadvantage through the use of outdoor activities and education.
Many of the client group are those who are young offenders or those in danger of offending.
The charity is in the middle of substantially expanding with the establishment of a trading subsidiary to provide outdoor activities to visitors and corporate groups. As consequence of this, they expect that the charity will be able to expand and improve its activities.
The charity would be very interested in identifying a retired police officer who might have an interest in joining the board. This would provide them with invaluable insights into the issues and needs facing the young people we serve and most importantly what would be most effective in addressing any potential offending/reoffending behaviour.
The role would comprise attending a board meeting every 2 months, which would last about 2 hours each.
Go Country is based in Kinlochard (Nr Aberfoyle) but its board meetings are held in Paisley.
See more at http://gocountry.co.uk/
Is this something that you might be interested in?
If so, contact:
Jean Hamilton
Chair
Go Country Limited
Foresthills Watersports Centre
Kinlochard
Nr Aberfoyle FK8 3TL
Tel 0141 632 2900 Fax: 0141 632 2220 email: jean.hamilton@jhltd.co.ukhttp://www.gocountry.co.uk/
Discounted fly fishing opportunity - see members benefits page
Visit to WW1, WW2 and War Graves
In Autumn 2010 we would like to plan a trip to France/Belgium to the War Graves/WW1 & WW2 battlefields.
Any person interested or with any suggestions regarding an agenda could you contact either Davy McLuckie on rpoas@blueyonder.co.uk or Lesley Struth on starjasmine.s@googlemail.com
Scam Regarding Phone Bills
BT has published the following notice on its website warning customers about the scam: Please be aware of the following:
Fraudsters, pretending to be from various phone companies, have been calling people on the pretence that there is an outstanding bill and threatening to disconnect their line immediately if they do not pay the bill straight away.
The fraudsters have been pretending to "cut off" the customer. Worried about having their line cut off, some people have been persuaded into giving the fraudsters their bank account details.
The police are investigating and BT Security is looking into incidents where the fraudsters have claimed to be from BT.
Whilst BT does have debt handling procedures which may involve calling customers, BT never carries out disconnections during the call by way of proof.
We advise customers never to give out any banking details over the phone unless they are absolutely certain who they are dealing with.
If there is any doubt at all, a BT employee will be able to give the customer their employee ID number and an 0800 number to call, where the customer can check that they are who they say they are. The customer can also check their identity by calling 0800 800 150.
Beware of similar phone numbers. Fraudsters may for example offer a number which has an extra zero - 0800 0800 xxx has been used by fraudsters - it is not the same as 0800 800 xxx.
UK communications regulator OfCom has also posted a warning to consumers about the scam: Fraudsters are currently phoning consumers claiming to be from BT or Ofcom. They claim that the consumer’s telephone line needs digital upgrade work. This, they say, will cost £6 and if it isn’t paid within 10 days the consumer’s phone line will be cut off.
In some cases, the fraudster will claim that the line needs testing and they will temporarily disconnect it. When the consumer tries to make an outgoing call they are unable to do so. This is simply because the fraudster is still on the line meaning no outbound calls can be made.
This is a scam. Ofcom and BT have alerted the relevant authorities for investigation.
Glasgow Police Museum
Glasgow Police Museum re-opened at:
(First Floor)
30 Bell Street
Merchant City
Glasgow G1 1LG
(0141 552 1818)
Hours: (April - Oct) Mon - Sat 10am - 4.30pm ; Sundays 12 noon - 4.30pm
(Nov - March) Tuesdays 10am - 4.30pm ; and Sundays 12 noon - 4.30pm ONLY.
Futher information click here
TRAVEL INSURANCE - New Rates
Northern Ireland RPOA have recently introduced a new Travel Insurance plan provided by AXA PPP Healthcare and are now in a position to offer this to all retired officers in Scotland.
Basically they are offering annual worldwide insurance with no age restriction and medical history disregarded (provided you can state that you are fit to fly), 183 days max per year with a 65 days max per trip.
Insurance runs from 1st November each year.
Cost: £80 single, £125 per couple, £135 per family and £125 for single parent.
Further info and applications to NIRPOA (Sam, Janet or Karen on 028 9039 3568)
Scottish Police Memorial
The Scottish Police Memorial Trust and the Director of the Scottish Police College, hosted the 5th Anniversary Ceremony of the Scottish Police Memorial on Wednesday, 2 September, 2009.
All Scottish Forces were represented and the Service of Remembrance was conducted by the Reverend Georgie Baxendale. Several wreaths were placed at the Memorial to a background of the Lone Piper, courtesy of Constable Neil Clark, Strathclyde Police.
On behalf of the Retired Police Officers' Association Scotland, Honorary President Tom Foy, Fife Branch, layed the wreath. The Association was well represented from our Branches throughout Scotland. The event was a fitting tribute to our fallen colleagues.
A light lunch was provided by the Scottish Police College and it gave an opportunity for the families, colleagues and friends of the Police Officers who lost their lives, to meet and chat.
Latest information
For the Latest information from the PMAS specially for the Retired Police Officers Association Scotland
Membership at COSTCO
Retired Police Officers Association Scotland Members can apply for membership of the wholesale chain Costco. You will require to take your Association membership card and a utility billinto any of their three stores (Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow). Memebership of Costco is £25 + VAT per annum. Could you also let them know youheard about it from our website !!!
For Further information click here
Police Treatment Centres - New Application Form
Could you all please note that the Police Treatment Centres have informed us that they will not be processing any of the old style applications forms in future.
The new form can be found at their web site: www.thepolicetreatmentcentres.org
The Scottish Helpline for Older People (S.H.O.P.)
The Scottish Helpline for Older People (S.H.O.P.)
offers an independent, confidential telephone based information service to people aged 50 and over living in Scotland, and to those associated with them such as their carers and families. Our aim is to provide people with the information they require to enable them to make their own decisions about their own lives - it's about maintaining independence, enabling freedom of choice and empowerment. We understand that it is often difficult to find the information you require from the vast array available, and we can present the information to you in a format that suits your needs eg we can provide translation services, we have facilities to help us deal with enquiries from people who have hearing difficulties, and from those who have sight problems.
Our services are available to everyone who lives in Scotland - there are no geographical boundaries to our services. We are particularly keen to reach people who are in the minority groups, and would welcome more callers from these communities.
We deal with all types of enquiries, for example what benefits can be claimed, what is the current situation on free personal care, how can I get help for my parents who are not as agile as they once were, what should I do if I think an older person is being abused, etc. Whilst we do not profess to knowing all of the answers, if we are unable to provide the answer we cap generally put you in touch with someone who can.
A large part of our success is due to joint working arrangements with member organisations of the Consortium that supports the Helpline. These include W.R.V.S., Alzheimers Scotland, The Pension service, The Scottish Pensioners Forum, and Citizens Advice Scotland, to name a few. The Helpline is. funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Age Concern Scotland.
Our overall aim is to ensure that every person over the age of 50 in Scotland has access to the same high quality information, in a format that is appropriate to the needs of the enquirer. We have real people answering our telephones, not a plethora of options to choose and buttons to select and endless recorded music and messages. Occasionally if we are very busy or outwith opening hours your call will switch over to our answering service where you may leave your contact details and we will call you back as soon as possible. The Helpline is manned by both paid and volunteer trained information workers who have : wide range of experience, Some of our volunteers are over 70 years old and are acutely aware of the issues faced by older people today.
Why not try us?
The Helpline is open from 10am until 4pm Monday to Friday.
0845 125 9732
MONEY-SAVING WEB SITES
We have been informed that these all work but we haven't checked them out.
moneysavingexpert.com/travel/?utm_source=jantip&utm_medium=email
moneysavingexpert.com
www.saveonmakeup.co.uk
www.play.com
www.cdwow.com
www.strawberrynet.com
www.grabitnow.com
www.clearance-comet.co.uk
www.needundies.com
www.madaboutbargains.co.uk
www.Bornforsports.com
www.Sciencemuseumstore.com
www.freestuffjunction.co.uk
www.landsend.co.uk
www.directcosmetics.com
www.mysupermarket.co.uk
www.giveortake.com
www.entitledto.co.uk
www.rpoints.com
www.quidco.com
www.readitswapit.co.uk
www.envirofone.com
www.offeroftheday.com
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
SCOTTISH POLICE COLLEGE MUSEUM
The Scottish Police College has embarked on a project to establish a museum reflecting the history of the Scottish Police Service. At the present time we have a number of small displays of uniforms, badges and equipment used by the Scottish Police Forces since the 1940’s.
To be able to accurately reflect the change in policing over the decades we would like to build a stock of any item used by the City, Burgh, County and latterly Regional forces in Scotland. This includes any police related photographs.
We are appealing to all retired officers, who may have retained such items of memorabilia which are possibly taking up valuable room or loft space, to consider lending or donating items for display in the museum.
You all played your part in making the service what it is today, you all have stories to tell which depict the trials and tribulations of the service. Don’t store them away or leave them for your annual gatherings, share them now for those people joining the service to tell them what was achieved through your hard work and indeed hard times.
The gathering of items for display is only the start of the process; we would like to explain what the donated items are and what they were used for. If they have stories attached then let us hear them.
Eventually we would consider, with the permission of the person providing the story (changing names to protect the innocent!!), publishing these stories and tales with the proceeds going to police related charities.
Some of the items gathered so far are:
- Station Log Book from Larkhall Police Office (1899-1902)
- Batons
- Oil Lamps
- Handcuffs
- Insignia
- Photographs
- Uniforms
Chief Inspector George Barnsley
Head of Quality & Standards Division
Scottish Police College
Tulliallan Castle
Kincardine
Fife
FK10 4 BE
Tel: 01259 732013
Email: george.barnsley@tulliallan.pnn.police.uk
Exclusive members
offers from BUPA
CLICK HERE
Accommodation Leatherhead, Surrey
The Police Federation of England & Wales have open new offices in Leatherhead, Surrey. Included in the office suite are Hotel Rooms. It is only a £30 taxi fare from Gatwick Airport! Check it out at www.federationhouse.co.uk/
Discounted Fees for Retired Police Officers' Association Scotland Members
Russel + Aitken LLP, Edinburgh, are pleased to offer all Association members the following discounted fees on all of the Legal services which we provide:-
House sales
Estate agency fee of 0.75% + vat of sale price & fixed conveyancing sale fee of £395+vat (residential properties only and excludes marketing and conveyancing outlays).
House Purchases, Remortgages, Wills, Powers of Attorney, Estates & Tax planning, Separation, Divorce, Commercial leases etc
15% discount off standard Russel + Aitken fees for services including House purchases, remortgages, Family Law / Divorce/ Separation/ Mediation, Wills, Powers of Attorney, Winding up estates, Tax planning, Personal injury, Employment, Debt recovery, Litigation and Commercial leases.
Please call or email for further information and a no obligation Fee Quote.
Susan Mendelssohn
Russel+Aitken LLP
27 Rutland Square
Edinburgh
EH1 2BU
0131 228 5500
enquiries@russelaitken.com
www.russelaitken.com
Financial Advice
Strathclyde Police Recreation Association have a firm of independent advisers (Campbell Financial Management) who host retirement seminars on a monthly basis at Lochinch Club, Pollok Country Park, Glasgow. They last approximately three hours with coffee on arrival and a light buffet meal served at the conclusion of the seminar.This is an opportunity for your members to receive free financial advice with no obligation.
Campbell Financial Management have a long and proven track record advising police officers on how to plan a financially secure retirement.
If any of your members are interested in attending a seminar, or are looking for more information, please contact the SPRA offices on 0141-532-4186 / 7 / 8 (tie-line 713).
Disablement Income Group (DIG) Scotland.
DIG is a charity that assists those with disabilities and health problems, also Carers, to claim benefits to which they are entitled. Its aim is to improve the standard of living and quality of life for disabled people and Carers living in the community, by ensuring they claim and receive all relevant Welfare Benefits. Their advice is FREE and is for all ages and medical conditions.
If you need this advice please call 0131 555 2811 for immediate help.
Looking for a former Colleague?
We get many requests from visitors to our site who are searching for former colleagues, whose contact has been lost. It is often possible to be of assistance but we cannot, and do not, compromise any individual's privacy.
A source that we can direct you to is the website of Police Oracle at www.policeoracle.com This is an informative website and has a dedicated link to www.policereunited.co.uk which can assist people with the type of enquiry concerned. It now contains many hundreds of names as well as a message board and is well worth a try, given that within a few minutes you might find the answer to your enquiry.
MacMillan Cancer Relief
If you are having problems with the cost of travelling to and parking at hospital, MacMillan Cancer Relief may be able to help you. They know that travelling to and from hospital can be expensive, especially if you are undergoing treatment on a daily basis, over a period of weeks. The side-efects of cancer treatments, such as tiredness and nausea, also mean that public transport isn't always an option. The costs quickly add up, but there is help available.
Under the The Hospital Travel Costs Scheme you may be eligible to claim. For further details phone MacMillan free on 0800 500 800 or visit their website at http://www.macmillan.org.uk/abetterdeal