WMP is increasing the number of cadet units police have and WMP are looking for passionate volunteers to help run them.
One of the new units is at the Lyng Academy in Coventry so there are some exciting opportunities to get involved in official City of Culture events.
Others are at Pedmore High School in Dudley, Queensbridge School in Moseley, and Bartley Green School in Birmingham.
New units are also planned in Sandwell, Wolverhampton, and Dudley, as well as in Aston, Erdington, and Handsworth in Birmingham.
Police currently have over 360 cadets and 76 leaders across 15 units. But now there’s an opportunity for even more volunteers to get involved.
Police are looking to recruit volunteer cadet leaders to help mentor and inspire our young cadets.
Sam Booth, our Citizens in Policing manager, said: “We already have some really amazing cadet leaders who volunteer their time and make a real difference. Now we want to expand. There’s some exciting events planned in Coventry especially for its year as City of Culture and this will give our cadets and cadet leaders a fantastic opportunity to become a part of the city’s history.
“We’re looking for applicants from all backgrounds, especially those who are passionate and want to make a positive difference to their community.”
The opportunity is open to anyone who can give two hours of their time a week. In return, they will have access to some fantastic training opportunities, become inspirational mentors to a great group of young people, and lead a variety of exciting and interesting cadet activities.
Megan has recently signed up to become a cadet leader at Lyng Academy in Coventry. She’s living in the city while she studies to become a doctor at university.
She’s also a 999 and 111 call assessor for West Midlands Ambulance Service, working a 12-hour shift each week and occasional overtime during holidays. And she’s about to take on a second job as a vaccinator with the COVID-19 vaccination team at the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW).
Despite being busy, Megan wanted to learn more about the community in which she lives – and she’s excited about being part of the Coventry City of Culture.
She says: “It’s important to have the opportunity to interact with different people who are outside of your normal career or circle of friends. It gives me a break from medicine and at the same time, I’m doing something good in the local community.”
Megan says the role of a cadet leader suits anyone who is friendly, approachable and open to learning new things.
She added: “You’ll probably learn as much from the cadets as they learn from you.
“In a post-Covid world, it’ll hopefully involve some trips out with the cadets to learn more about the local community. As a Coventry unit, it’s going to be great to get involved in the Coventry City of Culture too. It’s great that we’re going to be a part of the story.”
Megan says she’s already loved her short time as a Cadet Leader and would urge others to sign up too.
“The best part from the small experience I’ve had is the excitement from the cadets when they find something interesting and then all the questions they come up with that I hadn’t thought of myself.
“Being able to interact with such a diverse group of young people and see how much they learn is exciting.”