This Father’s Day, a dad-of-two from South Wales talks about how Police Children’s Fund has helped his rugby-mad sons realise their dreams.
Jason sadly lost his wife, a serving officer with Dyfed-Powys Police, in 2016. Since then, the Fund has helped their two sons with costs towards school trips, driving lessons, computers, birthday treats and rugby training.
Jason said: “My wife passed away suddenly eight years ago. At the time, I wasn’t aware that she’d been paying into Police Children’s Fund but the police family liaison officer referred us.
“Both my boys are rugby-mad and the biggest help from the Fund has been towards their extracurricular school activities, especially rugby. My eldest son, who’s just turned 18, is quite a high-flyer in rugby and I’m hoping at some point he’ll be wearing the Welsh shirt!
“In July he’s going to South Africa on a rugby tour with the school and Police Children’s Fund part-funded his place. Without that it would have been a real struggle – it’s just made life that much easier.
“With my younger son, the Fund has helped with school trips and his recent birthday allowance helped pay for a special treat – the boys had a helicopter ride over Mt Snowdon.
“The boys have been able to do the things that I wanted them to do but would have struggled to pay for. It’s given us that extra bit of financial stability.”
Jason added that he enjoyed his correspondence with Sherral and Nikki at the Fund. He said: “It helps to know that there’s someone out there who cares about the kids, because when you have a sudden loss, it’s a lonely place to be.
“It almost feels like an extension of parenting, because they’ll ask: ‘How are the kids? What’s happening?’. It’s fantastic and I really appreciate that personal touch.”
Jason encouraged other officers to pay into the Fund because it helps support their colleagues in the police family. He said: “You never know what’s around the corner. The Fund has helped us immeasurably.”