Published Tuesday 1 March 2016 at 14:27
Blackburn and Darwen Police Cadets are one of three organisations to be shortlisted in the SLYNCS awards in the youth project of the year category.
The SLYNCS (Strengthening Links Between the Youth and Networks, Communities and Specialists) awards were established last year and set up to recognise and honour the hard work, dedication and commitment of Blackburn with Darwen’s young people.
SLYNCS’ objectives are to work side by side with young people to encourage them to participate in a wide range of social action projects in their area, which will be appropriate for their age, gender, capability and to encourage growth of development.
Blackburn and Darwen Police Cadets are a not for profit volunteer group made up of young people aged 13 to 18 year olds, 25% of whom should be from a ‘vulnerable’ background. The cadets meet once a week in the evening and offer their services to community groups at weekends and during school holidays. Since the group started, the cadets have completed more than 1,000 hours of volunteering outside of their weekly meetings.
This included gardening at a local respite centre and community centre; assisting with crowd safety at the Witton Park bonfire, Blackburn Christmas lights switch-on and lantern festival; attending Blackburn Remembrance Day Parade and the funding and distribution of Christmas presents to children at Royal Blackburn Hospital. The cadets have also supported local police officers with crime prevention stalls, leaflet distribution and assisting at local neighbourhood events.
Christine Holdsworth cadet co-ordinator said:
There are currently 47 cadets who give up their time to attend weekly sessions, as well as any additional volunteering we invite them to be involved in, which they always do with a smile on their faces and a positive attitude.
The cadets are also working towards their Duke of Edinburgh awards as part of being a police cadet. They are the youth of today and the role models of the future. They wear their cadet uniform with pride and many of them hope to become police officers or forensic officers, in the future, whilst others simply do this because they want to make a difference to their communities.
Jaffer Ali Hussain, chief executive officer at SLYNCS added:
Young people across the borough carry out such great work, often volunteering hundreds of hours of their own time and the SLYNCS awards is a perfect way to recognise that contribution. Above all, the awards are a symbol of hope and success in a time when negativity surrounds young people constantly.
The winners of the SLYNCS awards will be announced at the annual dinner which takes place on Friday 11 March at Maida Restaurant, Blackburn.