Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

My name is Tom. I have been a Police Officer in the Met Police since 2003. In that time I have had the opportunity to see a side of life that not everyone gets to see. Performing CPR on babies. Holding stabbing victim's entrails in. Hearing survivors' stories of unbelievable cruelty performed on them by their own families. As well as the daily trickle of needless destructive human behaviour on others. 

The cumulative impact of those experiences on a person's mental well-being cannot be underestimated. As Police, we huddle together and laugh it off with a glass of whisky or seven. And when we go home for a few brief hours rest before we start all over again, those experiences haunt our dreams. And eventually they begin to invade our waking minds too.

Things start to happen that we don't understand. But we're big, tough Police Officers so still we laugh it off - though perhaps with a slightly shakier laugh than before. We know something's wrong, but we don't know what. We don't know who to talk to - we can't talk to each other because we're big, tough Police Officers. So we try to laugh it off. But now no laughter comes out. Just silence and hidden tears. 

At home our loved ones know something is wrong. But we can't say what - we don't know what. And because we're big, tough Police Officers, we can't even ask what. And so the distance grows until one day something happens and we struggle to get out of bed. We stand on platforms and watch trains whizzing past and imagine "What if...?" But suddenly we're back at work and someone else needs our help and we go to them. Because we're big, tough Police Officers. 

We never realise we can ask for help too. We never realise it's ok to talk, even as our silence becomes the final push to drive away those that care for us. And then we walk that dangerous precipice, not trying nor caring if we slip. Because we're big, tough Police Officers.

I want Police Officers to feel it's ok to talk - I know how important it is to do so. So I am doing what I can to help. As well as being a Police Officer, I am also a 1st degree BJJ black belt with over 20 years experience in martial arts and self defence. With help from fellow BJJ black belt instructors, we are running a series of charity BJJ Seminars exclusively for Police Officers to support MINDs Blue Light Campaign. The first one is scheduled for Wednesday 13th February 2019 at 10am. 

I am asking for a minimum donation of £15 to MINDs Blue Light Campaign so that anyone attending will not only benefit personally from the seminar, but will also help another Police Officer come through their dark time. Even if you are unable to come, please give whatever you can to help the people who are there to help you.

Thank you

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.