During term times, we meet on a weekday evening for a two hour training session. You may also volunteer for three extra hours each month to assist local policing and community initiatives.
Volunteer police cadets
We are now recruiting Police Cadets.
The application window closes on 28 July 2024 at 23:59
Young people are sometimes portrayed in a bad light in the media. Being a cadet is a chance for you to show the positive contribution you can make to your community.
Our cadets join us for lots of reasons. As well as having fun and meeting new people, it's also a great way to:
- Gain new skills and experience
- Learn about policing
- Make a difference in your local community
- Take part in all kinds of activities - from patrolling local events, to charity walks, to karting or caving
Being a cadet can help you develop these skills:
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Problem solving
- First aid
- How to plan and deliver a presentation
- CV, interview and application form techniques
As a cadet you'll get a great insight into the police and the work we do, but it is not a direct path to joining.
What is the Volunteer Police Cadet programme?
The volunteer police cadets is a diverse group of young people aged 13-18, who have a joint desire to support their local communities and gain a practical understanding of policing.
Units meet at local college venues once a week and are led by police officers, police staff and volunteers. In addition, cadets develop their leadership skills by undertaking challenging social action projects in their communities, with an expectation that they will volunteer 3 hours a month.
These projects include activities such as supporting older members of the community in understanding cyber-crime, fundraising for charities and road safety campaigns.
We welcome cadets from any background, social group, gender, ethnicity, ability/disability and whether you have an interest in the police or not.
What to expect as a police cadet
To become a volunteer police cadet you must:
- be aged between 13 and 15½ to apply
- have a good school attendance record
- complete all questions on the application form
To be a volunteer police cadet you should:
- have an interest in police work or your community
- have good communication and listening skills
- be able to promote equality and diversity
- be willing to make a positive contribution to your community
- promote the Police Cadet programme and North Wales Police positively
As a volunteer police cadet, you will engage in various duties such as:
- assisting at large events such as the Urdd Eisteddfod and local events like Mold Carnival
- creating vehicle safety initiatives
- giving out crime reduction leaflets about our #BigEasy campaign in your neighbourhood
- taking part in operations such as Op BANG, an anti-social behaviour reduction activity
- assisting with the Force Open Days
- helping at sports events and community fun days
- taking part in Remembrance Sunday and civic parades
- raising money for charities in a variety of ways
- How crimes are solved and how to spot the clues
- How to look for a missing person
- Learning about different departments within NWP (such as CID, Forensics, traffic policing and uniformed response officers)
- Using a pocket note book (used by officers like a diary to record information at police incidents)
- Making new friendships
- Taking part in fun and exciting activities
- Supporting your community through volunteering and social action projects
- Challenging yourself to learn and develop new skills
- Help with your CV when you're ready to start work
- An insight into British policing
Meetings are held at local colleges across North Wales. You will attend one of these close to where you live.
There is space for 20 cadets at each unit, and currently we have six units across North Wales in these policing areas:
- Anglesey
- Gwynedd North
- West Conwy Coastal
- Denbighshire Coastal & Abergele
- Deeside
- Wrexham
Yes, we'll provide you with:
- trousers and a polo shirt
- fleece jacket
- cap
- high-visibility jacket
- black boots
You will need to provide your own boot polish.
It costs nothing to attend, all we ask is for you to bring your enthusiasm and be willing to contribute to the activities. You may wish to bring pocket money for the tuck shop though.
You can apply to join Cadets as long as you are 13 years old or over in September but not older than 15.
Cadets stay in a unit for 2 years. You can remain after this time as a senior cadet, but may not stay past your 18th birthday.
If you would like to continue with the Cadets once you are 18 or older you can apply to become an adult cadet leader, as long you have the skills required.
Vacancies for this post are advertised on our website when they are available.
We welcome cadets from any background, social group, gender, ethnicity, ability/disability, and whether you have an interest in the police or not.
We welcome young people who may have previously been in trouble with the police or may feel disconnected from their peers and community.
We're not looking to recruit future police officers, but want to give all young people a chance to be heard, support the community and develop skills to become fantastic citizens in a fun, friendly and exciting way.
There is nothing else like the Cadets - it is a unique experience for young people to become part of the policing family for many years.
Information for parents and guardians
The safety and wellbeing of our cadets is our number one priority.
Who are the cadet leaders?
Cadet leaders include police officers, police community support officers, special constables, members of police staff and police support volunteers.
We put all adults working with our cadets are put through a thorough vetting procedure. Their induction training as cadet leaders includes safeguarding training and they are given clear guidance on how to work with young people, as well as the behaviour and standards expected of them as cadet leaders.
What safety measures are in place for the activities cadets do?
All activities our cadets take part in are risk assessed. Whenever they are out on activities within the community they are always under the supervision of their cadet leaders.
Cadets will not be deployed if a risk assessment indicates any risk of conflict or confrontation. If that risk should arise during a deployment, cadets will be withdrawn from it immediately.
Outdoor adventure activities are only led by staff or contractors who are certificated and competent to lead and run such activities. Anyone leading outdoor adventure activities will be required to produce insurance documents and qualifications for supervising that type of activity before it takes place.
What is the aim of the cadet scheme?
Our aim is to:
- inspire young people to participate in their communities and make a positive contribution
- encourage a sense of adventure and good citizenship
- provide a practical understanding of policing
- engage young people (including those at risk of entering the criminal justice system or being socially excluded) in activities that encourage them to develop socially and academically
- help develop personal and leadership skills through a variety of experiences, including the opportunity of volunteering in the community
If you have any questions about the cadet scheme, contact us by emailing [email protected]
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