A unique partnership between Lincolnshire Police and the University of Lincoln will be officially launched this week (4 November) with opportunities for students to become involved as volunteers working with the force.
Jackie Rowe who leads on the V1000 project instigated by Lincolnshire Police and Crime
Commissioner, Alan Hardwick, says, “We have worked with the University of Lincoln’s Careers and Employability Team to offer two bespoke volunteering roles linked to the ‘Lincoln Award’.”
“Students have the opportunity to improve their future Employability Team to offer two bespoke volunteering roles linked to the ‘Lincoln employment prospects through participation in the ‘Lincoln Award’. The ‘Lincolnshire Police Lincoln Award’ offers students a number of training courses, workshops and the opportunity to volunteer with Lincolnshire Police. They will provide additional police services and gain a real insight into policing. Students can complete the Lincoln award at any time whilst studying at the University,” says Jackie.
Mark Stow, who is Head of Careers and Employability at the University, says the scheme marks the beginning of a new approach to employer engagement. “This is an exciting and innovative new development for our University Careers & Employability team who work in partnership with external partners like Lincolnshire Police to develop a mutually supportive initiative,” he says. “The Lincolnshire Police ‘Lincoln Award’ is by its very nature an exciting opportunity for our students, many of whom have real aspirations to follow a profession in the Police Force.”
Jackie Rowe says there are two different volunteering opportunities, one as a Volunteer Police Community Support Officer and the other as a ‘Police Campus Drop-In Centre’ volunteer.
She said:“The Volunteer PCSO role will require a commitment of 250 hrs over two academic years and the successful applicants will undergo training alongside other Volunteer PCSOs, before going out on accompanied patrol with a mentor. They will have the opportunity to experience all the different facets of community policing alongside their PCSO mentor.”
The aim is for them to be competent to patrol independently within a 12 month period.
Jackie said the Students Union’s new Advice Centre have committed to providing 100 hours of their free time and will operate and staff a Campus Drop-In centre on behalf of Lincolnshire Police, working closely with the local policing team.
She said:“They will provide access to policing services in the heart of the University community at different times during the week.
“The students will be given training by Lincolnshire Police and the University of Lincoln enabling them to deal with a variety of policing matters, providing advice or guidance or signposting callers appropriately.”
Mark Stow says it is an increasingly competitive graduate labour market. “And it is collaborative activities such as this, which will both enhance the employability of our students whilst also supporting our local community and graduate retention.”
The first Lincoln Award VPCSOs have already been recruited and began their training on 5 September and the successful Drop-In Centre volunteers have now been selected from almost 40 students who applied.
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