FROM officers keeping their communities safe from harm, to chaplains offering a network of support, there is a wealth of volunteers giving their all to support policing in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys.
Dyfed-Powys Police has more than 100 volunteers across its four counties, all offering different skills and knowledge to police officers and staff. In turn, they benefit from gaining valuable experience which can help advance their studies, career or simply help them give back to their community.
This is why the force is backing the national Step Up campaign, which launched on Friday, October 6 and aims to encourage people to donate their time and expertise to support local policing across England and Wales, as well as raising the profile of the work of existing volunteers.
The campaign features an emotive 90 second video from existing volunteers, urging people to step up and dedicate some of their free time. A Citizens in Policing website has also been created to highlight the many different roles available.
Throwing their backing behind the campaign, some of Dyfed-Powys Police’s volunteers have spoken about their roles and what they get out of devoting some free time to the force.
Force chaplain Tom Evans has dedicated hundreds of hours to helping officers and staff across the four counties, providing and co-ordinating an inter-denominational pastoral support service to police officers and staff, including Special Constables, Cadets and other volunteers, as well as their families. Mr Evans was presented with the Volunteer of the Year Award at the force awards ceremony this year in recognition of his unswerving commitment. He said: “I have had a lot out of life in other spheres, and coming to retirement age I was looking for something constructive to do.
“I started volunteering, and since then I have been moved beyond words and sometimes to tears with the friendships I have made and the sorrows that have been shared with me.
“Working with these people is quite something. Everything else I have done pales into the background. If I can help just one officer, member of staff or their family, that is reward enough. It’s a two-way thing – I give and I receive in return.”
Sam Mitchell, from Swansea, has recently started volunteering his time in the health and safety department at police headquarters, supporting staff with risk assessments and accident reports.
He said: “I am looking for work at the moment, and I thought this would be a great idea to gain new skills and get an insight into what sort of jobs are available at the police.
“The department have really involved me in their work, so I’ve been to meetings about the new accident reporting system, I’ve been on risk assessment inspections and providing admin support.
“The volunteers coordinator was really helpful when I was applying, and gave me options of what positions were available.
“I would definitely encourage people to go for it if they are thinking of volunteering – you have nothing to lose.”
Superintendent Robyn Mason, the force lead for citizens in policing, added: “Here at Dyfed-Powys Police we have an incredible team of volunteers, who take on positions ranging from administration work and chaplaincy to officers patrolling our streets, and we can’t thank them enough for their work.
“Our Special Constabulary, for example, makes a massive contribution to helping keep communities safe in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys. Every week our volunteer officers commit hundreds of hours to policing our communities and keeping the public safe – on top of their day jobs, studies, and caring for their families.
“There is no doubt that Dyfed-Powys Police hugely benefits from the work of our hardworking volunteers, and we are incredibly grateful for their dedication and commitment.
“The Step Up campaign is a great initiative to highlight the opportunities available to volunteers within the police service, both as an officer or member of staff, and we hope it will encourage more people to dedicate time to helping their community.”
There are plenty of volunteering roles at Dyfed-Powys Police – from admin work and helping our cyber crime team, to serving on the frontline as a Special Constable.
To find out what opportunities might be open to you, please contact our Citizens in Policing Coordinator Adele Jones on 01267 226463.
You can download one of the case studies here: Special Constable Craig Jones case study
