Soham’s Volunteer Police Cadets bridge the gap between generations

MONDAY 18^th January saw generations coming together when Soham’s Volunteer Police Cadets met with organisations supporting vulnerable people in the community at Soham Village College.

Organised by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Outreach Worker, Rebecca Avery, the Link:Age Intergenerational Project brought young and old together to give the young volunteers an opportunity to explore ways to better support their communities.

Having received the latest Scams and Fraud Education training from Cambridgeshire County Council Trading Standards, the young cadets were able to ‘role play’ various scamming scenarios with organisations such as Neighbourhood Watch, The Bobby Scheme, The Royal British Legion, The Care Network and Littleport Timebank.

Andrew Fayers, Trading Standards Officer said:

“These young people are in a unique position to support particularly vulnerable people, such as the elderly and disabled in their own communities. Police cadets are approachable and trusted in the community so can now put their newly acquired knowledge into practice.”

Volunteer Police Cadets follow an intensive 13-week induction programme which prepares them to support community safety, devoting at least three volunteer hours per month with activities ranging from supporting police teams at public events to delivering crime prevention advice to the public.

Fifteen year old Head Cadet Parsley explains what the training meant to him:

“I grew up watching cop shows and knew joining the police force would be the career for me. This training has been particularly rewarding – meeting already-established groups has given me real insight into how I can better support vulnerable people. I am looking forward to putting some of what I have learnt into practice.”

Introducing a Volunteer Police Cadet Scheme in Cambridgeshire was a high priority for Police and Crime Commissioner, Sir Graham Bright when he took office in 2012. With three units now established in Peterborough, Soham and Wisbech, plans are currently under development to roll the scheme out to Cambourne and Cambridge City.

Sir Graham Bright, Police and Crime Commissioner added:

“I am thrilled to see the cadet unit in Soham progressing so well. This work promotes greater understanding and respect between generations, helping to create more cohesive communities which build on the positive experiences young and old have to offer each other.”

“Some of the ideas the young people came up with last night were fantastic, from cleaning war graves to helping vulnerable members of the community with odd jobs such as changing light bulbs.”

For more information about the Volunteer Police Cadets Scheme, please email: cadets@cambs.pnn.police.uk.