The Cleveland Volunteer Police Cadet programme is open to young people aged 13 to 17 years inclusive, with separate Cadets Units in each Local Policing Area, who meet on a weekly basis for two and a half hours.
The Programme has several key aims:
- To promote a practical understanding of policing amongst young people.
- To encourage a spirit of adventure and good citizenship.
- To support local policing priorities through volunteering and giving young people a chance to be heard.
- To inspire young people to participate positively in their communities.
In order to achieve these aims the Cleveland programme has a curriculum covering seven key areas of skills and development:
- Citizenship and Volunteering
- Life Skills
- Health and Fitness
- Outdoor Activities
- Purpose of the Police
- Crime Awareness
- Community Safety
The programme aims to build bridges within communities, working to reduce the risk of crime and encouraging progression towards responsible adulthood, by providing a range of transferable skills to over one hundred young people each year.
The programme includes a number of key deliverables:
- Support for neighbourhood policing by supporting local policing events and/or local community events.
- Delivery of crime prevention advice to community members through specific cadet led projects.
- Support for young people considering a career in the police service.
- Development of young people through signposting to additional structured activity such as Duke of Edinburgh, Duke of Cornwall and National Citizenship Service.
- Successful completion of the learning objectives and competency framework across each of the seven specified areas of achievement for all cadets involved in the scheme for a period of two years or more.
- Progression of older cadets into Senior Cadet and Volunteer Instructor roles.
- Voluntary work undertaken in addition to the core cadet unit hours.
Funding will cover the costs of a Cadet Co-ordinator at 15 hours per week and a Programme Support Worker at 37.5 hours per week paid who will oversee the programme. Funding will also be utilised to cover:
- Volunteers expenses
- Uniform
- Vehicle hire and fuel
- Activities
- Refreshments
- Insurance
- Volunteer training
- Equipment
The cadets also undertake a range of fundraising activities to supplement funding received through the PCC.
Scan38385Cleveland Police Cadets funding (application, 126kB)