From the Frontline to the Waterline: How Surfing is Changing Emergency Service Wellbeing

The Hidden Cost of Service: Financial Stress, Wellbeing & Early Intervention in Policing

Welcome to ResetU In this episode, Andy Rhodes and Nathan Gardner are joined by Kerry McMahon White, Managing Director of Police Mutual, to explore one of the most overlooked, yet deeply influential, aspects of wellbeing in policing: financial stress. With a long-standing connection to policing and nearly a decade leading Police Mutual, Kerry brings a unique perspective shaped by data, lived experience, and close relationships with officers, staff, and their families. Founded by the police, for the police almost 160 years ago, Police Mutual continues to support the policing community through financial education, insurance, healthcare and reinvestment back into the service. Together, Andy, Nathan and Kerry unpack the scale of the issue, sharing stark but vital insights. Over 33,000 police personnel are living with less than £125 a month in discretionary income, while more than 85,000 individuals are identified as struggling with basic financial understanding. These pressures, often hidden due to stigma, are shown to be closely linked to fatigue, mental health challenges, absenteeism, and overall wellbeing. The conversation explores why money remains such a taboo subject in policing, from fears around vetting and corruption risk, to cultural expectations of resilience and self-sacrifice. Kerry explains how early financial education, accessible tools, and private, judgement-free support can prevent small problems escalating into crisis. Andy and Nathan reflect on how financial strain often sits quietly behind sleep disruption, relationship stress, burnout and declining health. The episode also widens out to look at modern pressures: instant spending, social media influence, rising living costs, and the changing expectations of new recruits who value balance and quality of life more than ever before. Kerry shares how Police Mutual delivers financial education across forces, supports health screening and healthcare access, and reinvests profits back into policing, all with the aim of prevention rather than cure. As the conversation draws to a close, the focus turns to leadership and culture. Kerry offers a clear message to senior decision-makers: financial wellbeing must be lived and breathed, not treated as a tick-box exercise. Supporting officers from day one, normalising conversations about money, and recognising financial health as a core pillar of wellbeing can make a real, measurable difference. For more information on what has been discussed in today’s episode please head to the below links: Police Mutual: https://www.policemutual.co.uk/ [https://www.policemutual.co.uk/] Download the ResetU App: https://resetu.co.uk/ [https://resetu.co.uk/] This podcast is proudly sponsored by Police Mutual, which supports the police family with wellbeing, financial, and practical support, while recognising extraordinary bravery across the UK. To find out more, please head to https://www.policemutual.co.uk/ [https://www.policemutual.co.uk/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Move, Breathe, Reset: The Science of Nature and Mental Health

Welcome to ResetU In this episode, In this episode Andy and Nathan explore the life-changing impact of nature-based therapy for emergency service personnel and why stepping outside could be one of the most effective ways to support mental wellbeing. Joined by Dr Fazaleet Duran from Birmingham University, and Ian Boyd, CEO of Mind Over Mountains, this conversation dives into the connection between nature, movement, mindfulness, and recovery, especially for those working in high-pressure environments. From trauma-informed approaches to building resilience through outdoor experiences, this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and practical takeaways. For more information on what has been discussed in today’s episode please head to the below links: Mind Over Mountains: https://mindovermountains.org.uk/ [https://mindovermountains.org.uk/] Dr Fazaleet Duran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fazeelat-duran-phd-cpsychol-fhea-8545b029/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fazeelat-duran-phd-cpsychol-fhea-8545b029/] Ian Boyd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrianboyd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrianboyd/] Download the ResetU App: https://resetu.co.uk/ [https://resetu.co.uk/] This podcast is proudly sponsored by Police Mutual, which supports the police family with wellbeing, financial, and practical support, while recognising extraordinary bravery across the UK. To find out more, please head to https://www.policemutual.co.uk/ [https://www.policemutual.co.uk/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

From the Frontline to the Waterline: How Surfing is Changing Emergency Service Wellbeing

Welcome to ResetU In this episode, Andy Rhodes and Nathan Gardner are joined by James Mallows, serving police officer and co-founder of Operation Surfwell, an innovative wellbeing programme using surfing and blue space therapy to support emergency service workers experiencing trauma, stress, and burnout. James shares his journey through over 20 years of policing across rural and urban environments, and how a devastating assault on a colleague became the catalyst for creating something radically different. Frustrated by traditional interventions that weren’t helping officers recover or return to work, James and his colleague Sam began asking a simple question: what actually helps us reset after the toughest days? The answer came not in a boardroom, but sitting on surfboards off the coast of North Devon. From that moment, Surfwell was born. Throughout the conversation, James explains how Surfwell goes far beyond “just taking people surfing.” Built on action-centred therapy and underpinned by academic research, the programme creates a psychologically safe, carefully structured environment where participants are supported by instructors who understand the realities of emergency service life. By combining cold water immersion, peer connection, learning a new skill, and trust-based relationships, Surfwell helps unlock conversations that many participants didn’t realise they were ready to have. This episode is a powerful exploration of resilience, innovation, and what happens when we rethink how we care for the people who spend their lives caring for others. For more information on what has been discussed in today’s episode please head to the below links: Surfwell: https://www.surfwell.co.uk/ Download the ResetU App: https://resetu.co.uk/ [https://resetu.co.uk/] This podcast is proudly sponsored by Police Mutual, which supports the police family with wellbeing, financial, and practical support, while recognising extraordinary bravery across the UK. To find out more, please head to https://www.policemutual.co.uk/ [https://www.policemutual.co.uk/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Four Legs, Big Impact: How Dogs are Supporting PTSD & Wellbeing on the Frontline

Welcome to ResetU Joining Andy and Nathan in the studio is Gary Botterill and Clare Nicholls, two extraordinary leaders using dogs to transform mental health support in emergency services. Gary Botterill is a Royal Navy veteran and former police officer of nearly 30 years. He co-developed the Backup Buddy police mental health app, founded Service Dogs UK after a Churchill Fellowship researching PTSD assistance dogs, and now leads the award-winning Oscar Kilo OK9 Wellbeing and Trauma Support Dogs programme through the National Police Wellbeing Service. Gary’s work brings trained dogs into police forces to reduce stigma, provide comfort, and open vital conversations about mental health. Clare Nicholls, after 18 years in policing, has seen firsthand the importance of intentional wellbeing and human connection. Alongside her calm and loyal pup, Emmie, she supports colleagues as an OK9 Handler and Lead for Surrey & Sussex, sharing stories, smiles, and the power of a wagging tail to create safe spaces and spark meaningful conversations. Together, they discuss the incredible impact dogs have on mental health and wellbeing, the science behind their calming effects, and the power of grassroots initiatives like OK9 to change culture in high-stress professions. Through personal stories and experiences, this episode emphasizes community, peer support, and hope, showing that sometimes, healing begins with connection… and a four-legged friend. For more information on what has been discussed in today’s episode please head to the below links: https://www.oscarkilo.org.uk/services/wellbeing-dogs [https://www.oscarkilo.org.uk/services/wellbeing-dogs] Download the ResetU App: https://resetu.co.uk/ [https://resetu.co.uk/] This podcast is proudly sponsored by Police Mutual, which supports the police family with wellbeing, financial, and practical support, while recognising extraordinary bravery across the UK. To find out more, please head to https://www.policemutual.co.uk/ [https://www.policemutual.co.uk/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Under Pressure: The Power of the Breath on the Frontline

Welcome to ResetU  Joining Andy and Nathan are Miranda Bailey and Sam Murray to explore the transformative impact of breathwork, particularly within high-stress professions like policing. They dive into the work being done through Breath Connection, an initiative combining breathwork practices and cold water therapy to support mental health, emotional regulation, and resilience. From practical techniques you can integrate into daily life, to the deeper physiological and psychological shifts that come from consistent practice, this episode bridges science, lived experience, and community impact. The discussion highlights how simple tools like conscious breathing, cold exposure, and time in nature, can dramatically improve wellbeing. More than that, it reframes breathwork not just as a personal development tool, but as a pathway to compassion, empathy, and stronger community connection. This is a conversation about regulation in chaotic environments, about self-care as service, and about creating space to breathe, literally and emotionally. For more information on what has been discussed in today’s episode please head to the below links: The Breath Connection [https://www.instagram.com/thebreathconnection_org/?hl=en-gb] This podcast is proudly sponsored by Police Mutual, which supports the police family with wellbeing, financial, and practical support, while recognising extraordinary bravery across the UK. To find out more, please head to https://www.policemutual.co.uk/ [https://www.policemutual.co.uk/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.