Compass Points 2017 are a group of Met Police Officers who have decided to embark upon a plethora of gruelling challenges in order to raise awareness of the trauma and mental health issues suffered by emergency services staff who respond to traumatic incidents in the course of duty.

In June 2021 Darren L, Darren S and Mick took part in a ‘Run To Remember’ around the capital, on the fourth anniversary of the London Bridge attack. Darren L and fellow Compass Points 2017 member Keith were first responders at both the Westminster and London Bridge terrorist attacks - for which Darren L and Keith were awarded both the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal with Second Award Clasp for their extraordinary bravery. This is an exceptionally rare award and pictures of the medal with clasp can be seen below.

"As well as raising awareness" explains Darren L, "we also wanted to raise money for Flint House. They’re so good at helping people with not just physical injuries but also mental health issues."

And so a new challenge was created. This growing team decided their next challenge would be to walk 55-miles from Westminster to Brighton to raise funds for Flint House. They started their walk on the evening of 29 September 2021 and aimed to finish within 24 hours. .The link to Brighton is that originally the Police Rehabilitation Centre was there for many years before moving to Goring.

“On a personal note, I've been to Flint House twice" says Darren L, "where they’ve helped me massively with physiotherapy following a motorcycle crash and surgery, I became aware of the work they were doing around mental health. We wanted to raise money for a place that does such good work and has the tools and knowledge to help officers. Knowing how great they are there, we want to support them in any way we can.”

The Westminster to Brighton walk was a success, with 7 walkers taking 105,000 steps in 20hrs exactly. They raised £3446.00 for Flint House.

On Thursday 24th March 3 members of Compass Points 2017 joined Flint House physios, staff, patients and fellow police officers in the OARSOME CHALLENGE which saw them tag-team on an indoor rowing machine, rowing solidly and uninterrupted on-site at Flint House to raise awareness and funds for new rehab equipment . They raised over £3,000.

2023 - here we come!