Staffordshire Police Cadets met with Russian Youth delegates yesterday (Wednesday) at the County Buildings in Stafford.
Cadets Alex Ingham and Melissa Foxley from the Stafford unit welcomed the Ivanovo youth delegates, representatives from Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services (SCVYS) and Staffordshire County Council to learn more about the partnership between Staffordshire and Ivanovo and the importance of sharing best practise within the voluntary sector.
The Cadet scheme was a key pledge for Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis. It aims to strengthen links between the police and young people and promote good citizenship. Units have already been established in Stafford, Cannock and Stoke-on-Trent with others set to follow in the coming months.
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Arnold, who also met the delegates, said: “It was great meeting so many of the Ivanovo youth delegates. It really shows the importance of international partnership working and learning more about how volunteering works in another part of the world.
“In just over 18 months since the first unit was launched, the service has made a real difference to the lives of local young people – and this event was a shining example of the high standards they are setting.”
Chief Executive of SCVYS Phil Pussey said: “The partnership between Staffordshire and Ivanovo has been going on for over ten years now. There are a number of different strands to our partnership including schools, social care, financial issues and of course the youth and volunteering programme.
“Six young people from Ivanovo have spent a week with us in Staffordshire and have kindly offered to host a Police Cadet when Staffordshire delegates visit Ivanovo.”
Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis has stated that he will not redirect money that’s used for frontline policing to fund the Cadets Service, so patrons and sponsors help pay for uniforms, equipment and transport for the youngsters.
For more information on Staffordshire’s Police Cadets, including details about the recently launched Junior Police Cadets, visit www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk/police-cadets/
