Ashley Harding is a 26-year-old undergraduate student. He is a volunteer at North Wales Police, but his role is unique as it is the only one of its kind in the UK. He currently works within the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) division; a trust who strive to promote a safer North Wales by supporting local communities.
PACT, formed in 1998, encourages applications from local community and voluntary groups to initiate projects to prevent crime and encourage safety. Since 1998, PACT has invested over £1m in communities across North Wales.
PACT is unique in the form it takes, especially within that of other Welsh police forces, as it is the only group which offers grants to neighbourhood policing teams. Charitable trusts within police organisations have become a scarcity in recent years; Ashley is currently the only volunteer working within a police charitable trust in Wales.
Ashley currently is a second-year student on the Policing Foundation degree course at Llandrillo College and has been a PACT volunteer for six months, dedicating one day a week to his duties. Speaking on his motivation for volunteering, Ashley states;
“Volunteering can be a case of wanting to give something back to your community and helping others. Volunteering with the police is more direct and associated with the career path I want to follow. Prospective employers are impressed by voluntary work and seeing as I am volunteering for North Wales Police, it is providing me with a great insight in to the organisation.”
As part of the Policing Foundation degree course syllabus, students are encouraged to volunteer with the North Wales Police service in order to gain a valuable insight. In recognition of Ashley skills and knowledge, his course tutor suggested that he contact PACT programme coordinator Dave Evans, who was able to enlist Ashley as a volunteer on the PACT programme.
Dave stated how Ashley’s knowledge of social media platforms, along with his awareness of the challenges currently facing young people made him a valuable asset to the PACT programme.
“Ashley is a valuable resource to the team due to the skills he brings to the job that we don’t have currently. One main skill required for this role is the ability to talk to people and maintain positive relationships, which is why Ashley’s tutor recommended him to me.”
Ashley says that he deals with a lot of variety within his role duties, stating that as well as being stationed at the PACT office in St. Asaph, he has also had the opportunity to liaise with local policing teams and visit project sites.
The PACT volunteer role is an especially interesting as it offers the opportunity to deal with not only a diverse range of local community groups but also with a number of different departments within the organisation; especially considering the range of officer ranks that Ashley deals with in his duties. He liaises with PCSOs on a regular basis but also has the opportunity to communicate with the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Ashley added; “Since volunteering, I have had the opportunity to meet new people. The volunteer role has gained my confidence and allowed me to build upon the skills that I already have as well as learning new skills.”
A particular project which has taken prominence is the PACT-coordinated ‘Justice in a Day’ campaign; an interactive drama that focuses on crime and its consequences.
Dave stated; “The Justice in a Day programme is something we are quite proud of. Now in its sixth year, Justice in a Day educates young people about the consequences through inter-active drama workshops which address current and emerging issues that affect young people. Ashley has had the opportunity to experience the impact in which Justice in a Day has had on local schools which have benefitted from the campaign.”
Ashley states that his current focus will now be a social media drive for the trust. This will involve assessing options for promoting PACT and raising awareness on an appropriate platform. As Ashley progresses in his role, he hopes to take on more responsibility in the future, citing that all experience gained within his volunteering duties has proved beneficiary in all aspects of his degree study, and not only from a policing aspect.
“The work has been reflected in my course, including modules on booking meetings and taking minutes. I look to flex the skills I already have and to learn more as I go along.”
Being a volunteer has allowed Ashley to consider what kind of role he would prefer within the police organisation;
“I hope to find work within the police force or similar agency following graduation. If I can gain employment and continue volunteering with Dave and PACT following my graduation, then I would happily do that.
Volunteering has two parts; it is a benefit for both for the volunteer and for the community. If time allows and you’re looking to help others, volunteering is well worth doing.”
Dyfed Hughes