Celebrating our Appropriate Adult volunteers
We are celebrating the difference Appropriate Adult (AAs) volunteers make to our organisation and thanking them for all their time and dedication during this year’s Volunteers’ Week, which runs from 1-7 June.
Our Appropriate Adult volunteers give their time to support vulnerable young people and adults who have been arrested or are suspects in police investigations. Many of the people we help end up in police custody because of their vulnerabilities and the difficulties this causes. The Appropriate Adult service has delivered face to face help throughout the current pandemic.
The service is delivered in police stations across Cambridgeshire. We have more than 50 active volunteers that come from all ages and backgrounds. Our volunteers become AAs for a host of different reasons. Some of our volunteers are students studying Law, social work, and linked subjects. They get real experiences, helping and supporting vulnerable clients, this helps prepare them for future careers in the sector.
We have had AAs move onto work in the police service, probation service, solicitors, and positions in YMCA. Other AAs want to give something back and use the life experiences they have had to help, support, and advise those that are experiencing difficult times.
We have five AAs that have been volunteering for more than five years and one who has been with us since we began running the services, almost 9 years ago!
Find out how you can become an Appropriate Adult volunteer.
A big thank you to everyone who has been involved and helped us in supporting young people.