Teenagers swear oath to act in accordance with South Wales Police Youth Volunteer programme

More than 90 teenagers from South Wales have sworn an oath to act in accordance with the Police Youth Volunteer programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

More than 90 teenagers from South Wales have sworn an oath to act in accordance with the Police Youth Volunteer programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Groups from Cardiff, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Neath swore the oath in front of Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael and South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Jon Stratford. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The programme is open to people aged between 13 and 18 years, including anyone with physical and mobility impairment and from young people who may have previously been caught up in the criminal justice system. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Being a Police Youth Volunteer is an opportunity for all young people not just those who want to join the police. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The aim of the programme is to capture the enthusiasm and energy of young people and channel it into community based projects while at the same time fostering relationships with police and developing a sense of good citizenship and leadership. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner of South Wales Police recognise that young volunteers have the potential to make a distinctive contribution to both enhancing community cohesion and preventing offending and re-offending. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Police & Crime Commissioner Alun Michael said: “I have strongly supported this initiative by South Wales Police to engage with young people and offer them a structured opportunity to serve the community as volunteers and to develop their own skills and abilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The opportunities to these young people will include First Aid training through St John and the chance to achieve through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – qualifications that often make the difference when seeking a job.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Assistant Chief Constable Jon Stratford: “We recognises the value that volunteers bring and that by involving volunteers in a wider range of activities means that we can better represent and support he communities that we serve. In developing cohesive volunteering, our communities will be confident that we are listening, responding and supporting their needs.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you live in South Wales and would like to find out more about the programme please email Easternpyvfitz@south-wales.pnn.police.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​