​What volunteer role do you do and how long have you been doing it for?

I am a Volunteer Cadet Leader, which I’ve done since March 2018. 

How did you hear about the volunteer opportunity and why did you get involved?

I heard about this opportunity through the Citizens in Policing team at Lloyd House, and I really wanted to get involved. I’m passionate about teaching young people about policing and removing all the stigmas and myths that these young people have about policing in general. I felt the cadet’s scheme was a perfect way of doing this.

Have you done any other volunteer work in the past?

Yes, I started volunteering with West Midlands Police in December 2014 when I was elected as Youth Police and Crime Commissioner. I have always had a passion for policing and wanted to extend this role further so I then began volunteering with a number of different policing divisions which saw me getting involved in various projects including helping homeless people in the city centre. More recently, I have done a massive amount of work with CMPG. This has seen me supporting officers in their fight to reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on our roads, through both education and enforcement.

What does your volunteer role involve doing and what reward/satisfaction do you get out of volunteering?

The Police Cadets meet on a weekly basis during the school terms and have lots of different session topics delivered to them. If I am leading a session, I put every effort into making sure that it is engaging for the cadets and so planning the lessons well is fundamental in making the cadet’s scheme work.

I get huge satisfaction knowing that young people are leaving our sessions having a better understanding about the police and the police having a better understanding about the needs of young people. I work in a school as a day job and my role as a Volunteer Cadet Leader isn’t massively different to standing in front of a class, delivering an item in as many different and engaging ways that is possible, and then going home at the end of the day knowing that you’ve helped the students. WMP Cadets isn’t there to make future police officers – it’s there to help equip our young people of today with the right skills for the future.

How often do you volunteer? Do you find this flexible? 

In my role as a Cadet Leader, I volunteer once a week which is flexible for me as it fits nicely around my day job. It’s also important that we plan lessons and make contact with people who we may want to come and do a talk or visit, meaning that I often find myself spending a few hours during the week doing a little bit extra to make sessions even better for our cadets.

Do you work with a group of other volunteers, and if so, what are they like?

I work with other Volunteer Cadet Leaders to prepare sessions ready for our cadets. I enjoy working with these people because we are all in it to make the lives of our young cadets better. Everyone is friendly and welcomed me to the team, as I am one of the newest Volunteer Cadet Leaders to join. With us all working together, the amount of knowledge and life skills that we all have collectively is amazing, and it’s a driving force of the cadet’s scheme.

What challenges do you face in your volunteering role?

Sometimes there will be last minute changes, which means that you will have to quickly come up with a backup plan, but as we have cadet leaders from all walks of life who can talk about their own personal experiences, we handle this really well.

What would you say to anyone who is interested in volunteering for WMP?

If you have a few spare hours a week and are looking for an environment where the staff is friendly, welcoming and you really want to make a difference to your community, then you should consider joining West Midlands Police as a volunteer. When I first started volunteering I wasn’t the most confident, but since then I’ve had officers of all rank come and speak to me, and it’s built my confidence massively. I would never in a million years thought I’d have achieved the range of things I do now.

​What volunteer role do you do and how long have you been doing it for?

I am the lead volunteer for the ghost hunts which are held at the Steelhouse Lane Custody “Lock Up”. I have been volunteering since February 2018 and took over as the lead volunteer in June.

How did you hear about the volunteer opportunity and why did you get involved?

One of my colleagues volunteers on the museum open days and told me about the ghost hunts being ran at the Lock Up. I got in touch with the manager of the scheme and before I knew it I’d done 15 plus ghost hunts!

Have you done any other volunteer work in the past?

No, this was my first time volunteering.

What does your volunteer role involve doing?

Being the lead volunteer involves managing the bookings, ensuring the hunts are paid for, arranging site visits for companies and co-ordinating the other volunteers so they know what to expect on the day of events. On the night’s itself, I will open up the building, greet the guests, do a history talk as we walk round, and much more!

How often do you volunteer? Do you find this flexible?

I usually volunteer around twice a month and this is all down to my personal preference. If we are low on volunteers then I step in if needed. It is very flexible and I only volunteer on dates that suit me.

Do you work with a group of other volunteers, and if so, what are they like?

Yes, on each of the hunts we require three volunteers so I have been able to meet lots of lovely people from not only within the force but also from members of the public who volunteer too. It’s a great opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and to spend time with like-minded people who also enjoy hunting ghosts!

What challenges do you face in your volunteering role?

Staying awake until 1am and being brave enough to check the cells are empty at the end of the night! In all seriousness, I love this role so much and feel very privileged to be part of it.

What reward/satisfaction do you get out of volunteering?

I really get a buzz from seeing members of the public leaving the events saying what a great time they had and want to come along to the open days too so they can bring their kids. The Lock Up is a very special building and I feel really proud to volunteer there. I also love interacting with the guests on the hunts and being able to tell them some more about the Lock Up and its history.

What would you say to anyone who is interested in volunteering for WMP?

Do it! Being a volunteer is so rewarding and there are so many different roles you can get involved with. The time goes by really quickly on the events and most importantly it all helps towards the long-term goal of turning the Lock Up into a permanent heritage site. 

What volunteer role do you do and how long have you been doing it for?

I have been a member of West Midlands Police Brass Band for 13 years. I have undertaken the role of Secretary and am currently the Vice Chair.

How did you hear about the volunteer opportunity and why did you get involved?

The band performed at my attestation evening when I joined the police. Having the band play added to the exciting atmosphere of the event and made it memorable. They were asking for new players, so I got in touch.

Have you done any other volunteer work in the past?

I was a Special Constable with WMP for four years whilst studying for a degree in Criminal Justice & Policing.

What does your volunteer role involve doing?

I have two roles:

• Member: Rehearsing once a week and attending official engagements, neighbourhood & charity events with the band on behalf of WMP.

• Vice Chair: Providing leadership and support to the band committee.

How often do you volunteer? Do you find this flexible?

We rehearse once a week and perform at up to 20 events each year. The band is really flexible around attendance, as it recognises the busy work and private lives that everyone leads.

Do you work with a group of other volunteers, and if so, what are they like?

The band is made up of serving staff/officers, retired staff/officers, friends, family and members of the community – so basically anyone can join to represent WMP.

This means we have members from a multitude of occupations and ages. Friendships have been formed which exist beyond the band and we enjoy a good social life.

What challenges do you face in your volunteering role? &

What reward/satisfaction do you get out of volunteering?

It’s always difficult to fit everything you want to do in, but we are rewarded by being able to play music in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, whilst representing WMP.

What would you say to anyone who is interested in volunteering for WMP?

What have you got to lose? It is a great opportunity to meet new people from a variety of different backgrounds, learn new skills, help others and give something back to the community.