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Our cadet recruitment is currently closed but recruitment tends to open around March.
Please keep an eye on our social media channels for when our cadet recruitment opens.
The scheme aims to give young people between the ages of 13 and 17 the opportunity to develop their qualities and skills through a structured programme and to enhance the relationship between the public and police. Cumbria police cadets come from all of our diverse communities, irrespective of their background or financial circumstances, and including those vulnerable to crime or social exclusion.
The Volunteer Police Cadet programme offers a fantastic variety of opportunities to the young people involved, many of which would otherwise be well beyond their expectations.
Cadets will be trained by police officers, staff and Police Support Volunteers. Cadets will learn about the law and the specialist police departments as well as taking part in drills and inspections. Cadets take part in neighbourhood policing initiatives, plus community activities and events.
The aim is to prepare young people for their future by providing varied activities and opportunities to develop qualifications, enhance inter-personal skills and confidence, and achieve a sense of pride through supporting community policing.
Providing a safe and secure environment where young people can meet with others, learn about policing and policing issues, contribute to community initiatives and have fun is at the heart of the experience provided through the Volunteer Police Cadets. The public expect and deserve to have trust and confidence in their police and this is even more so when this comes to protecting children and young people in our care when participating in activities organised by the police service.
While Cumbria Constabulary is part of the national movement, we manage our own risk in relation to the safety of our cadets and leaders. We expect all our police officers, police staff and adult volunteers who support cadet units, to uphold the highest standards in child safeguarding, protection and supervision. As part of this, all adult volunteers are checked and vetted by the Constabulary prior to being able to participate and support cadet unit activities as well as enhanced DBS checks.
Cumbria Constabulary follow the national safeguarding framework that has been agreed by the National Police Chiefs' Council and all chief constables have signed up to adopting this. It offers a streamlined and consistent approach to the reporting and managing of safeguarding concerns, the recruitment of leaders, training, organising activities and beyond. This ensures that everyone involved in VPC knows what is expected of them at a local and national level and that confidential reporting and investigation is done in a consistent manner.
We work alongside the National Safeguarding Manager who is responsible for maintaining contact with police forces about this critical responsibility and about the standards and codes of conduct expected at a national level so that we can continue to work towards providing the safest and highest level of standards of youth safeguarding available nationally.
If you or anyone you know has any concerns about the safety of anyone involved in the volunteer police cadets you can report these via the following:
Other points of contact:
The Volunteer Police Cadets have an agreed, overarching framework within which police forces across the UK operate their cadet schemes.
The Volunteer Police Cadets is the nationally recognised police uniformed youth group throughout England and Wales, and in Scotland is known as Police Scotland Youth Volunteers. While being a national movement, working to agreed standards, local volunteer police cadets operate flexibly in local police forces, with individual forces being responsible for their delivery. The sharing of good practice and learning is encouraged at a national level. The police officers, police staff and adult volunteers who support cadet units are expected, to uphold the highest standards in line with the values of British policing. The National VPC is a part of the wider National Citizens in Policing portfolio. All forces operate under the National Police Chiefs' Council supported framework, sharing the common aims and principles of the VPC across England and Wales.
Further information can be found on the Volunteer Police Cadet website.
We are accepting referrals for the Police Cadets
Cumbria Volunteer Police Cadets are a preventative service aimed at providing young people with the confidence to engage in their community and promote social action.
The Constabulary regularly run recruitment campaigns, usually in the spring however, we will consider referrals all year round.
The Cumbria Police Cadet scheme is run across Cumbria and offers places for young people aged between 13 and 17 years old. The scheme is:
Referrals can be made by any volunteer or paid staff member from Cumbria Police, Youth Offending Service, Cumberland Council, Westmorland & Furness Council and any secondary educational organisation concerning a young person who they consider vulnerable and would benefit from the scheme. Please note that the young person and their parent/guardian must consent to the referral being made.
When a referral is received the Constabulary will assess the suitability of the young person for a place at one of their Cadet schemes. The referrer will be made aware of the result.
To request a referral for the Police Cadets please complete the form below.
Kendal – Monday evening
Barrow – Tuesday evenings
Workington – Tuesday evenings
Penrith - Wednesday evenings
Carlisle – Thursday evenings
We are not currently hiring Cadet Leaders. However, if you are interested please register your details by email with the Citizens in Policing team.
Find out more about our the role of our cadet leaders.
All police volunteer cadets will be issued with a free cadet uniform including boots. Full details will be provided upon joining.
To join the cadets you will need to be between 13 - 17 years of age.
If you are older than 18 you can volunteer to be a cadet leader.
No charge will be made for the cadets.
Any young person will be considered for the cadets. Previous offending will not necessarily be a reason to exclude a young person, but it may mean you will need to be spoken to prior to joining to determine your commitment not to reoffend. No vetting or background checks are conducted on any cadet wishing to join.
The Volunteer Police Cadet scheme will give you an insight into policing and will help you to make career choices. However, membership is not a guaranteed route to becoming a police officer or any other employment within a police service.
Cadets meet weekly and it is expected that you will attend all sessions. Education will always come first. You will also be asked to attend activities and events outside of the regular meetings and attendance is highly recommended.
Cadets at 18 years old must leave but can become a police volunteer with the unit. It is recommended that they leave their own unit for three months to show a break between being a cadet and becoming staff.
Our scheme is open to all young people regardless of their career ambitions or capabilities. You can join the cadets even if you do not wish to pursue a future career in policing.
Volunteering as a police cadet can help you towards achieving a Duke of Edinburgh award.
Cumbria Constabulary is proud to serve the people who live in, work in and visit the county. We aim to provide a high standard of service which everyone can use and is fair to all. We also provide a service which encourages positive attitudes and removes discrimination. Read more on Equality, diversity and inclusion at Cumbria Police.
Keeping Children Safe during Community Activities, After-School Clubs and Tuition. Questions to help parents and carers choose out-of-school settings.
The After-school clubs, community activities, and tuition Safeguarding guidance for providers sets out what out of school activity providers in England must do to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18. The documents outline how to achieve specific standards to ensure that young people and leaders are kept safe. The standards for the VPC are the Safe to Operate Standards, based on standards set by UK Youth. All forces have benchmarked themselves against the standards.
Please note: some documents may not be suitable for use with assistive technologies. Contact us if you require information in an alternative format.
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