COULD you help young people improve their understanding of the law, their communication skills and teamwork? If so, Dorset Police wants to hear from you.

The force is launching a recruitment drive for Police Cadet leaders to help make a difference to young people’s lives in the county.
Dorset Police has four volunteer police cadet units – in Christchurch, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth – that provide an opportunity for teens between 13 and 17 to learn about the law, police procedures and specialist police units, while developing a range of skills, including communication, interpersonal and teamwork.
A team of volunteers is needed to help run the scheme, with the police keen to recruit new leaders in Poole, Christchurch and the rural areas of Dorset to expand.
Leaders do not have to have previous police experience, only an interest in helping young people reach their full potential.

The role includes running weekly meetings, supporting outdoor activities and policing events.
Assistant Chief Officer Jo Mosley, director of people and support services, said: “Volunteering as a cadet leader can be an inspiring and enriching experience. Our cadet leaders not only assist with meeting our force vision and local policing priorities, but they are instrumental in helping to develop, encourage and empower the young people of Dorset to have a voice and achieve things that they never believed possible.
“It only takes one adult to change one young person’s life forever and this is why we are recruiting more people to join our cadet leader team.”
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick, said: “I have been fortunate enough to visit both Bournemouth and Weymouth Cadet Units and I have seen for myself the positive effects being a police cadet can have.
“The teenagers I have met were fulfilling useful roles in their communities and developing some essential life skills at the same time – learning how to communicate effectively, how to work together as a team and how to think and act to the benefit of the wider community – all these skills will stand them in good stead for whatever they choose to go on and do.
“Since I have been in office, I have enthusiastically supported the cadet scheme to expand to include three more units and I would like to see this expansion continue, to give more young people and communities across Dorset the opportunity to benefit from the scheme, but for this to happen we need members of the community to volunteer to be cadet leaders. So if you are looking for a valued, positive, rewarding volunteer role within your community, please take a look at becoming a cadet leader.”

You can apply to become a Dorset Police Cadet leader by visiting https://recruitment-dcp-dp.org/dorset-police-volunteers/cadet-leaders.