Volunteer Police Cadets

Volunteer Police Cadets scheme for 13 – 17 year olds

Are you interested in becoming a Volunteer Police Cadet?

  • Do you have an interest in policing and public services?
  • Would you like to volunteer in the service of your community?
  • Would you like to have the opportunity to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award?


Eligibility

You will be eligible to apply to the scheme if you meet the following criteria:

  • 13 – 17 years of age
  • Will be in year 9 or above at school/college in the new academic year this September
  • Live in the county of West Yorkshire

Our programme is linked to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE).  You must be in year 9 or above to register for the Bronze Award.

If you already have the Bronze Award and would be interested in completing the Silver Award, you may be offered the opportunity to join one of the Silver groups. Please contact us to discuss. 

The scheme is not an entry route into a policing career, but you will have the opportunity to gain an insight into policing, develop key life skills and support your local community.

 

Our Vision & Values

We aspire to be a safe, diverse and inclusive youth initiative for young people in West Yorkshire that empowers young people to make a positive contribution to their local communities and develop key life skills based on the values of British policing.

We hope to inspire young people to achieve the four national objectives of the Volunteer Police Cadets, as set out in the National VPC Strategy 2020 – 2024.

•    Making a difference in local communities, building character, confidence and contribution through youth-led social action.
•    Actively helping divert young people away from negative influences and crime.
•    Building trust and confidence between young people, their communities and the police.
•    Enabling young people to have a real voice and influence in building a positive, relevant 21st century policing.

We will support young people to develop the skills they need to become good citizens and achieve their ambitions both within and outside of policing. Although the scheme is not a direct entry route into a policing career, we will encourage young people to remain within the policing family and to follow in the footsteps of former cadets who have become police officers, police staff and volunteers with West Yorkshire Police.  
 

What's involved

As a Volunteer Police Cadet, you will have the opportunity to:

  • gain an insight into policing
  • make a difference to your local community through volunteering 
  • achieve the DofE Award 
  • take part in fun and exciting activities 
  • make new friendships 
  • develop key life skills 

Cadet units meet once a week for two hours during the school term. This is normally after school in the late afternoon/early evening. Please contact your preferred location for details of local meeting days and times. 

Volunteering events and expeditions usually take place on weekends.

West Yorkshire Police’s Volunteer Police Cadets scheme follows a two-year programme, which is linked to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE). Over 300 cadets currently take part in the programme across all five districts of West Yorkshire. 

 

 

Recruitment for Volunteer Police Cadets programme has closed.

Should you require any require further information about the programme, please contact [email protected]

 

Page last reviewed May 2023.

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