In the community
Find out what we are doing in the Surrey community.
We are pleased to announce that the Lucy Rayner Foundation has been chosen as the Chief’s Charity for 2025.
On 5 May 2012, Jenny Rayner and her family were tragically faced with the impact of mental illness when their daughter, Lucy, took her own life at the age of 22.
This life-changing event inspired Jenny and her family to begin campaigning about the mental health challenges faced by many young adults. The family quickly found that the support and help available to recognise and treat young adults with mental health challenges was woefully inadequate and significantly underfunded.
Jenny also discovered that her passion and tenacity to address these issues was shared by many others. Using her strong business acumen, entrepreneurial skills and over 30 years of experience in marketing, media and event management, Jenny found herself perfectly positioned to make an impact in raising awareness of this critical problem.
From counselling services, men’s support groups and women’s support groups to suicide bereavement and teenage anxiety support, they support the people of Surrey in every way they can.
In support of the trust, Chief Constable Tim De Meyer said: “I am delighted to congratulate the Lucy Rayner Foundation for being selected as the Chief’s Charity for 2025.
"With suicide rates in England and Wales at their highest levels since 1999, the work of this charity in supporting both those as risk of suicide and those bereaved by suicide is vital."
Surrey Police began piloting the National Volunteer Police Cadet (VPC) scheme in Autumn 2016. Now we have six across the county located in the boroughs of Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Guildford, Reigate & Banstead, Runnymede and Woking and are hopeful of expanding further still in the future.
Each of these units are led by a volunteer leadership team consisting of Police Officers, Police Staff, Special Constables and Police Support Volunteers who all give up their own time on top of their day roles to run the sessions.
The scheme is designed to provide a safe environment in which young people can learn as individuals, develop positive relationships with the police and actively support their community. We will help to prepare young people for their future by offering varied activities and opportunities to enhance their inter-personal skills and confidence. Cadets are also encouraged to work towards achieving qualifications through the scheme whilst gaining a sense of pride through supporting community policing.
National objectives for the scheme include Cadets that represent the diversity of their community, an aim to recruit 25% from a vulnerable or disadvantaged background, and offering a diversionary opportunity to those who are most in need of it.
Who is it for?
Our scheme is open to anyone aged 13-18 and living in Surrey and it is currently free of charge.
How does it work?
Cadets attend a two-hour evening session each week which will include inputs, drill, sport activities, team-building and talks from guest speakers, both internally and externally.
They will also assist policing teams and will be expected to volunteer an average of three hours per month working in their communities on crime prevention and social action projects
Units run throughout the academic school year with some planned events during the holidays and at weekends. The VPC national syllabus covers topics such as law, community, communication and police procedures. Cadets will progress through a workbook, developing from the induction (recruit) phase through different levels.
As the Cadets become more senior within their unit, they are encouraged to take additional personal responsibility in a number of areas such as mentoring new Cadets joining the scheme and developing their own ideas for Cadet deployments into the community.
How can I get involved?
If you would like any further information about joining, have any questions or you think Surrey Police Cadets may be able to support at an event you are planning, please email: [email protected]
Visit vpc.police.uk to find out more about the Volunteer Police Cadet Scheme if you are interested in being a cadet or a leader.
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