Volunteer Police Cadets Scheme is coming to Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
Are you aged between 13 – 18, interested in the police and helping out your local community? If so, the force’s brand new Volunteer Police Cadet scheme wants to hear from you.
Hampshire Constabulary VPC is a uniformed youth organisation, supported by Hampshire Constabulary, which has been designed as a youth engagement and diversionary programme.
The VPC scheme aims to promote a practical understanding of policing among all young people and encourage the spirit of adventure and good citizenship through volunteering amongst the community.
The VPC will be initially launched with two schemes at Cantell School and Redbridge School in Southampton, with the intention of rolling it out to other locations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in September this year. Further details of when and where these schemes will commence will be published in the coming months.
PC Stephen Swift, who is the Force Volunteer Police Cadet Leader, said: “Our aim is to inspire young people to positively participate in their local communities, and to give them a voice within the police and the opportunity to get involved in a really positive way.
“It is important to understand that the volunteer cadets will have no policing powers, they are not special constables and will not be used in any such capacity. But they will be a very important part of the Hampshire Constabulary extended police family working within the community, tackling local issues.
“After an initial ten week induction programme, all cadets will be required to complete a minimum of three hours volunteering per month by assisting with local policing and community events. All these activities will be co-ordinated by by PC Swift and the local VPC Unit Leaders, with assistance from the force’s Events Planning Team.
“The VPC scheme will offer a wide range of opportunities for those applying, from learning leadership skills that will benefit them throughout their future working life, to gaining qualifications such as Duke of Edinburgh Awards and first aid training.
“We will also offer nationally accredited learning, and we’ll work through policing scenarios to help them think laterally about problem solving and provide them with a better understanding of how we work.
“This scheme will be run initially by police officers and staff, volunteering in their own time – the response and offers of help have been over-whelming with more than 30 staff volunteering. The plan in the future is to open this up to external volunteers to apply to become VPC Leaders.
“Cadet schemes have been run very successfully in other forces including the Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police, where youngsters have been actively involved in volunteering at the London Marathon, the recent Royal Wedding, and the Lord Mayor’s Show. We hope to get our VPC’s involved with similarly exciting events in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
“This really is a positive development for the force as well as the communities we serve and is a great opportunity for young people. If you want to get involved, we really want to hear from you.”
Any young person interested in applying to become a VPC should send an e-mail to register their interest to: Volunteer.police.cadets@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
Anyone applying to become a cadet will be invited to an open evening along with their parents or guardians. This will give the opportunity to ask questions about the scheme before joining.
