00:00:00:01 - 00:00:03:18 I just wanted to make a real difference and help people in their darkest moments. 00:00:04:04 - 00:00:07:04 Being a Special Constable has helped me grow as a person, 00:00:07:15 - 00:00:09:28 and I go home feeling proud every day, 00:00:09:28 - 00:00:12:02 just knowing that I've made a positive impact. 00:00:12:02 - 00:00:13:28 I've got family links to the police. 00:00:13:28 - 00:00:17:22 So it was a chance to follow in their footsteps of grandad, my aunt and uncle, 00:00:18:01 - 00:00:19:19 and to give something back to the community. 00:00:19:19 - 00:00:20:14 You have to go through 00:00:20:14 - 00:00:24:02 vetting and a medical assessment, followed by an interview and a bleep test. 00:00:24:14 - 00:00:25:29 There's support at every stage. 00:00:25:29 - 00:00:28:23 You meet so many people, every day. 00:00:28:23 - 00:00:32:24 You can be part of some major operations and events, meet some amazing people 00:00:32:29 - 00:00:35:25 and even cross paths with a few celebrities. 00:00:35:25 - 00:00:38:07 Plus, we are treated just like a regular officer. 00:00:38:07 - 00:00:40:04 We have the same powers. 00:00:40:04 - 00:00:42:21 We attend the same incidents and even wear the same uniform. 00:00:42:21 - 00:00:46:22 You can take on more responsibility, get involved in specialist teams, 00:00:47:12 - 00:00:50:21 or even, use it as a stepping stone into a full time policing career. 00:00:51:07 - 00:00:53:13 It's a great way to build experience and confidence. 00:00:53:13 - 00:00:56:13 You can choose to volunteer in areas close to where you live, 00:00:56:20 - 00:00:59:09 or where you work, which makes it really convenient. 00:00:59:09 - 00:01:04:15 So I can actually, take part in BTP volunteering, during work hours. 00:01:05:12 - 00:01:09:08 And it's really easy to fit around because we can choose when we pick our shifts. 00:01:09:09 - 00:01:12:25 My employer gives me eight hours a month to volunteer during work time. 00:01:13:09 - 00:01:16:25 So that just means I only have to make up for another eight hours, 00:01:17:11 - 00:01:18:26 to meet the monthly minimum. 00:01:18:26 - 00:01:21:22 It's a great balance, and my employer is really supportive. 00:01:21:22 - 00:01:24:12 I get free travel, free training courses. 00:01:24:12 - 00:01:27:12 That includes things like response driving and first aid. 00:01:27:25 - 00:01:30:24 Plus, you get all your expenses paid for. 00:01:30:24 - 00:01:34:00 I've also learned a lot of skills, which have been really useful in my day 00:01:34:00 - 00:01:35:04 job as well. 00:01:35:04 - 00:01:38:04 And in ways which I hadn't necessarily expected to. 00:01:38:05 - 00:01:42:01 So there's a minimum amount of hours each month, which is 16 hours. 00:01:42:01 - 00:01:44:26 We tend to average out sort of two shifts a week when I'm in. 00:01:44:26 - 00:01:46:14 So that's about 16 hours a week. 00:01:46:14 - 00:01:49:06 I volunteer around 50 hours a month. 00:01:49:06 - 00:01:51:28 It just becomes something you genuinely love doing.