Recognising our volunteers: Police Support Volunteer

As part of volunteers' week, we’ve spoken to Brenda Smith, a volunteer who has worked in Glossop for 11 years.

“The most rewarding part is when you go out and see members of the public. They’re always very appreciative of what you’ve done for them, even if it’s silly or small, they’re still grateful for your actions.”

Brenda Smith has been volunteering in Glossop for 11 years. Brenda not only helps to run the Glossop cadets, but also volunteers her time at Glossop Police Station. We spoke to her as part of Volunteers' Week.

She said, “I first joined over a decade ago, after seeing an advert in the newspaper asking for someone to take notes in meetings. I’d worked for a large company previously and was well versed in minute taking. A few years later and I still volunteer between two to six hours a week in the police station, and another three to four hours with cadets.

“My role at the station has changed in the last few years. Before, I would meet with the public, go to Pub Watch and Neighbourhood Watch meetings, as well as meeting with local councillors. More recently, I’ve been working on burglary statistics and have been providing community support. I will look at the details of the crime, understand what happened and then contact the householder asking if they need support with security to help them feel safe again. That way we can support them after the incident and put them into contact with further agencies who can help.

“I think once you go out there and speak to the community, you find there’s a lot of appreciation for the police, with so many people talking about how well they’re treated. At first this really surprised me, because everywhere else you see so much negativity. But in reality, that isn’t the case.

“I think volunteering for the police will always be interesting, because there are so many different roles to choose from. The different job profiles allow you to expand your knowledge and gain a variety of experiences.

“It’s also rewarding because the officers are so grateful for what you do, they recognise that you’ve saved them time and have allowed them to get out and help more people, they really make you part of the team.”

Our police support volunteers cover a variety of roles within our organisation. They make a huge difference in supporting communities across Derbyshire and continue to give their time to help more people.

We have a selection of new police support volunteer roles which we’ll be advertising in the coming months. Keep an eye on our careers’ website for our latest vacancies.