What We Do
“The government can set up strategies but groups like Rainer are the hands, feet and heart of service delivery – without them there is no change”.
Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland, 2005
Simon Davis - Appropriate Adult Volunteer
I have been volunteering as an appropriate adult (AA) for Rainer Wessex Appropriate Adult Service since January 2006.
I got involved when I went along to my local Volunteer Service and told them I was interested in volunteering to help young people. They gave me some information about Rainer and put me in touch with them.
I had really good training for the role of AA, and I am now on call for two sessions per week.
When the service calls me it is usually to attend Southampton Central Police Station. I arrive at the custody suite and introduce myself to the duty sergeant. I am then given the custody record and have time to familiarise myself with the case before meeting the young person. From this I can learn if the young person is vulnerable, on medication, has learning difficulties or any other special needs.
When I meet the young person for the first time there are set questions to go through. I explain the role of the AA, that I am a volunteer and that I am there to support them. During the interview my role is to make sure that the young person's basic needs are met and that the interview is carried out in accordance with the PACE Act.
I also do other voluntary work. I sit on two drug treatment service user groups, which aim to improve drug treatment for young people and adults. Having had problems myself in the past I can really contribute to the groups. I also volunteer for the Hampton Trust and I am training to be a volunteer at The Society of St James's new Tier 2 service, a one stop drug service opening at Southampton early in 2007.
Since starting with Rainer I have done my foundation course in youth work and I am working towards my Btec. I want to make a career working with young people, and I would like to focus on young people who have mental health or drug problems.
Volunteering for Rainer has been a very rewarding experience for me, particularly having the opportunity to work 1:1 with young people and to help them. I have got a lot out of it and I am really pleased I got in touch.
