Young people who want to enjoy fun activities while helping their communities are being invited to join the countys first volunteer police cadet unit.
The scheme, set up in partnership between Dorset Police, The Bourne Academy, and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Dorset, will start taking its first recruits this summer.
People aged 13-18 and from a wide range of backgrounds across Bournemouth are now being invited to come forward.
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill said: “Joining the cadets is a fantastic way of boosting your confidence, playing a positive role in your community, but mainly having a good time.
“I’ve heard some incredible stories about young people whose lives have been transformed after joining cadet forces in other parts of the country, and I look forward to seeing how teenagers here in Dorset will benefit from this excellent scheme.”
The sessions, held at The Bourne Academy, will feature regular sports and fitness activities but the cadets will also find out about how police officers work from administering first aid to using a police radio and detecting crimes.
They will develop leadership skills by taking part in community projects such as helping older people understand cyber crime, fundraising for local charities and assisting with road safety campaigns.
Volunteers, recruited by the OPCC, will run the unit and will work directly alongside Dorset Police. The unit was set up after Dorset Police and the OPCC secured a Youth United Fund Grant from the National Volunteer Police Cadets team.
Cadets will be provided with their own uniform but will have to pay £2 weekly subscription to fund activities and events.
Mark Avoth, Principal of The Bourne Academy, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for young people in Bournemouth to make new friends, build their confidence and learn valuable life skills that will prove invaluable in their future development.
“Im proud to be hosting the new cadet unit at the Bourne Academy and I look forward to seeing how the young people who take advantage of this scheme will go on to grow as individuals.”
James Vaughan, Chief Constable of Dorset Police, said: “I’m a great supporter of this initiative to bring young people closer to their local police force.
“I know young people across our communities have a huge amount to offer and this is an opportunity to embrace that.”
Martyn Underhill added: “Volunteer police cadets aren’t about trying to recruit police officers of the future. Far from it, the unit is a marvellous way of enabling the police to engage with young people and the wider community as well as giving our young people valuable opportunities to learn and be heard.
“Although this first unit will be based in Bournemouth, I hope we will be able to set up others across the county in the future.”
Anyone who wants to apply to become a volunteer cadet should go here for more information.
www.dorset.pcc.police.uk/get-involved/dorset-police-cadets
