The new Lady Captain at Darlington Golf Club Sam Cairns has chosen PC David Rathband’s Blue Lamp Foundation as her nominated charity during her tenure in 2025.

Sam, a former police offer with Cumbria Police has a series of events planned throughout the year to raise money for the charity that supports injured emergency services personnel.

Sam Cairns, said: “As a retired police officer of 32 years service it was always my ambition to support the blue light services when the opportunity arose as the Lady Captain of my golf club. Having witnessed first hand the trauma, stress and anxiety suffered by many just doing their job in keeping the public safe. The support needed by so many, mentally, physically and financially can never be underestimated.”

Peter Sweeney, Blue Lamp Foundation Chairman, said: “I would like to thank Sam for choosing to support The Blue Lamp Foundation during her year as Lady Captain at Darlington Golf Club.  As a charity we are solely reliant on the kindness of our fundraisers and donors to be able to support our 999 heroes injured in the line of duty.

“It’s a very special year for us this year as we are celebrating our 15^th anniversary and we are very proud of the work we do, continuing the work David started, and having been able to support thousands of blue light personnel over those years.

“We don’t like to think of anyone from our emergency services being injured on duty but as they are there for us in our hour of need and the Foundation is there for them in theirs.

“We’re looking forward to working with Sam during these next 12 months on the exciting events and activities that she has planned.”

Anyone who wants to support Sam and her fundraising activities for the Foundation can make a donation via her JustGiving Page:

JustGiving.com/campaign/samantha-lady-captain-golf-charity-2025-2026

An officer from the National Crime Agency has just completed a very personal challenge to raise money for his emergency services colleagues injured in the line of duty.

Setting a target of raising £500 for the Blue Lamp Foundation, he planned to run one mile every hour for 24 hours, starting his challenge at 8am and finishing at 7am the following day.

Not content with the run alone, he added a few additional challenges, including completing his fastest mile during mile two, carrying a 20kg weight for mile four, and doing max deadlifts before mile six and max squats before mile eight.

He said: “I wanted to highlight the risks, pressure, trauma and dangers faced by UK emergency services personnel daily and to raise money for the Blue Lamp Foundation, which helps those injured in the line of duty across the three services.”

Not only did he complete the challenge as planned, but he also smashed his fundraising target by over £700, raising over £1200.  Every penny of the money raised will now go to help those in the Police, Fire and Ambulance services who are injured on duty.

A huge thank you from everyone at PC David Rathband’s Blue Lamp Foundation, and without the kindness and generosity of people like this NCA officer, we would not be able to do the work we do.

The fantastic range of Policeman Pete children’s books from author Barbara Ann are now on sale via our website shop.  Your little ones will love the stories and adventures of this village Policeman including ‘Maisie the Calf’, ‘The Missing Geese’, ‘The Adventurous Tortoise’, and ‘The Cheeky Magpie’.

These lovely little books make great birthday or Christmas gifts!

 

Let’s help our lovely fundraiser Mandy Cook to reach her fundraising target as she runs the Great North Run later this year in memory of her Uncle Barry (Police Inspector Barry John Taylor) and Ian Riley. Read her story and what’s inspiring her to want to give something back https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/amanda-cook29

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the David Rathband Trophy when the Northumberland Referees Association, captained by David Martin, takes on the Rest of the World, captained by George Penman, in this annual golf day.

The event was started in 2012 after PC David Rathband and part time referee was shot and blinded whilst on duty.  Since then this regular fixture proudly raises money for David’s charity and supports our injured emergency services heroes.

This year’s event takes place at Burgham Park Golf Club in Northumberland on Sunday 19th June.  Places are still available – 11am tee off, £120 per four ball.

For further information or to take part, please email David Martin: martin250@sky.com

 

It’s just over two weeks to Mother’s Day and we’ve got a new range of gifts for those amazing Mum’s out there (and their mini heroes) who work for the emergency services. You’ll also be doing your bit to support our #999heroes injured in the line of duty with every purchase. http://www.bluelampfoundation.org/shop-3/

We’ve been collaborating with Climbing Out for some time now and here is some of the incredible feedback they are getting from your attendees:

“Climbing Out has helped me find my purpose in life. Before coming here I was lost and drawing in my own head: now I feel free and inspired to push myself and develop”

“Something important I learnt was that you can have a good time, or even a great time, even if there’s a bunch of not so good going on too. I found the activity side of things very hard but surprisingly despite that I was still having a really great time.” Siobhan

“Thank you for giving me an opportunity to feel free and able to speak to people without fear of judgement” Wendy

“I feel so much more confident leaving here now, rebuilt into a bit more of the person I was before cancer” Kerri

“This programme is one unique journey that can offer more in a week than some other services can do over a longer time” 

“I just want to say thank you for this week. It has had such a positive impact on Megan…she hasn’t shut up! It is so lovely to see her spark back. A long way to go but thank you, thank you, thank you. You are without doubt a true inspiration.” Megan’s Mum

“Connecting with others in this environment is one of a kind and that connection is key in helping to give us hope”

“Climbing Out has given us time to heal and learn how to live, not just survive…..my confidence has grown and I’ve learned strategies to cope. Previously life was bleak and now it’s shining bright!” Kirsty 

“This experience has ignited my will to live, it might be a small spark, but I know working more with Climbing Out will help me brighten it. Without that spark I’d still be stuck in a dark room, now I have a glimpse of light and I can start attempting to clear out the room. Although slightly annoying as it was at times, the coaches pushing me both physically and mentally has created more progress in these few days than I’ve had in years” Megan 

“I have spent a long time focusing my life around my illness and this experience has allowed me to realise I’m more than that” Siobhan

“I feel genuinely hopeful for the future for the first time since my traumatic experience…..being pushed out of my comfort zone alongside people that are struggling like me has made me feel like I’m actually living rather than surviving” Aimee

Climbing Out has launched its 2021 programme to help people rebuild confidence and self esteem.  Following the success of  programmes aimed at the emergency services in 2020, they have been extended into 2021:

Prog 1: April 6^th -10^{th  –}  Peak District. Dukes Barn. Open age. University Programme

Prog 2: May 3^rd -7^{th  –}  North Wales. 30yrs and Over. Yr Hafod

Prog 3: June 20^th-26^th – Level 3, Wilderness Canoeing Expedition in Sweden

Prog 4: July 12^th – 16^{th   –} North Wales. Old School Lodge. Military programme. Open age

Prog 5: Aug 2^nd – 6^{th   –} Peak District. Visual Impairments Programme. Open Age

Prog 6: Aug 15^th – 19^{th –}  North Wales. Yr Hafod. 18-30yrs

Prog 7: Sept 13^th  – 18^th  –  Hadrian’s Wall Walk. Level Two

Prog 8: Oct 18^th – 22^{nd  –}   Lake District. Emergency Services/NHS/Military

Prog 9: Nov 22^nd – 26^th  – Peak District. PEGS programme (Parents who’ve been abused by their children) Open age

 

You can download a referral form here if you or anyone you know would like to apply for one of these courses.  More information on Climbing Out and the programmes on offer can be found here.

Members of The British Police Symphony Orchestra are proud to share with everyone their film of Rick Wakeman’s Dance of a Thousand Lights (as featured on The One Show, BBC 1) and to invite you light up the skies, in support of our blue light emergency teams.

Featuring over 300 performers, drawn from the wider police family throughout the UK and recorded entirely in isolation during lockdown, the film celebrates all who serve in our ambulance, fire and police services and who are working so hard in this current crisis to protect those we love.

Watch the whole film here: https://youtu.be/mfhjy_SuGXc

This unique fundraising project is in support of PC David Rathband’s The Blue Lamp Foundation, which celebrated its 10^th Anniversary this year. The money raised will enable the charity to help our team 999 heroes who struggle with mental, emotional or physical injuries as a result of their commitment to us whilst on duty.

Chairman of the charity, Peter Sweeney, said: “We are humbled by the work that has been put in by the BPSO to get this project up and running and the commitment to support our work, as crucial today as it was a decade ago, but even more difficult in the current crisis.”

The original Dance of a Thousand Lights event was scheduled for Sunday September 27, but had to be postponed due to Covid restrictions.

The new date for everyone to light up the skies is Saturday October 24 at 5.45pm.

To find out more about the project, the range of official merchandise and ways in which donations can be made, visit: www.bpso.org.uk

The orchestra is no stranger to blue flashing lights, comprising as it does, serving and retired police officers, support and civilian staff, along with the wider police family.

Musical Director of the BPSO, Dr Richard Jenkinson, said: “This project is an incredible achievement, bringing together as it has over 70 members of the BPSO, the internationally acclaimed classical pianist, Benjamin Frith and 300 performers from massed police choirs. A project such as this would have been impossible a few years ago and it is a tribute to all involved that we have used the technology available to create such a ground-breaking recording.”

The film, featuring every performer, along with footage of blue light heroes and vehicles, provides the perfect soundtrack to a visual spectacular to be staged on Saturday 24^th October 24, 2020.

At 5.45pm on this date, members of the public are invited to stand outside, at a safe social distance and wave blue lights into the skies, to become one of the BPSO’s thousand lights.

Where available, blue light emergency vehicles from all 999 response teams will flash blue lights in appreciation of the public support.

Light up the skies at sunset and celebrate your team 999 heroes –  It’s that easy!

 

Members of the British Police Symphony Orchestra (BPSO) together with massed police choirs from across the UK are taking part in a unique fundraising project to say thank you to our 999 heroes.

Working in isolation during lockdown, over 70 other members of the BPSO, the internationally acclaimed classical pianist, Benjamin Frith and 300 performers from massed police choirs,  have individually performed and recorded their parts and filmed their own performances of Rick Wakeman’s, “Dance of a Thousand Lights”.

To view the film please click here: https://youtu.be/Lz9jOFCN6bw

The BPSO is no stranger to blue flashing lights, comprising as it does, serving and retired police officers, support and civilian staff, along with the wider police family.

Last year the BPSO filled the Royal Albert Hall with over 7,000 dancing lights as part of the 30^th Anniversary Charity Gala Concert. This project is on an even larger scale, with even more blue lights.

Musical Director of the BPSO, Dr Richard Jenkinson said: “This project is an incredible achievement, bringing together as it has hundreds of musicians, drawn from across the UK, all of whom have rehearsed and performed in isolation. The film pays tribute to all who serve in our ambulance, fire and police services, many of whom have pushed themselves to protect and support members of the public, to the point that they are running on adrenaline in this current crisis.

“We joined forces with PC David Rathband’s Blue Lamp Foundation because this year is a very special year for them as they celebrate their 10th Anniversary. We’re asking the public to support this project and to join #Team999 through the purchase of

merchandise or by donating on JustGiving – all proceeds will go to the Foundation so that they can help those injured in the line of duty be that physical or mental and emotional wellbeing injuries.”

The Blue Lamp Foundation provides support for injured fire, police and ambulance personnel. It was set up by the late PC David Rathband, after he was shot and injured on duty with Northumbria Police in 2010.

Peter Sweeney, Chairman of PC David Rathband’s Blue Lamp Foundation, said: “This October, the Foundation will celebrate its 10th Anniversary and its importance to emergency services personnel who have been injured in the line of duty is as crucial today as it was a decade ago.

“We are humbled by the work that has been put in by the BPSO to get this project up and running and their enthusiasm and commitment to supporting #Team999.”