Generations came together this week when Soham’s Volunteer Police Cadets met with organisations supporting vulnerable people in the community.

The event, held at Soham Village College, was run by Rebecca Avery, the police and crime commissioner’s outreach worker.

The Link:Age Intergenerational Project brought young and old together to give the young volunteers an opportunity to explore ways to better support their communities.

Having received the latest scams and fraud education training from Cambridgeshire County Council Trading Standards, the young cadets were able to ‘role play’ various scamming scenarios with groups including Neighbourhood Watch, The Bobby Scheme, The Royal British Legion, The Care Network and Littleport Timebank.

Volunteer police cadets follow an intensive 13-week induction programme which prepares them to support community safety, devoting at least three volunteer hours per month with activities ranging from supporting police teams at public events to delivering crime prevention advice to the public.

Andrew Fayers, Trading Standards officer, said: “These young people are in a unique position to support particularly vulnerable people, such as the elderly and disabled in their own communities.

“Police cadets are approachable and trusted in the community so can now put their newly acquired knowledge into practice.”

Fifteen-year-old Head Cadet Parsley said: “I grew up watching cop shows and knew joining the police force would be the career for me.

“This training has been particularly rewarding – meeting already-established groups has given me a real insight into how I can better support vulnerable people.

“I am looking forward to putting some of what I have learnt into practice.”

Sir Graham Bright, former police and crime commissioner, established three Volunteer Police Cadet Scheme units in Peterborough, Soham and Wisbech. Plans are also being developed to roll the scheme out to Cambourne and Cambridge.

He said: “I am thrilled to see the cadet unit in Soham progressing so well.

“This work promotes greater understanding and respect between generations, helping to create more cohesive communities which build on the positive experiences young and old have to offer each other.

“Some of the ideas the young people came up last night were fantastic, from cleaning war graves to helping vulnerable members of the community with odd jobs such as changing light bulbs.”

For more information about the Volunteer Police Cadets Scheme, email: cadets@cambs.pnn.police.uk or call 01954 713 911.