Gwent Police cadets visit to develop skills, learn about international Policing and gain confidence through their cultural exchange
In 2024 Gwent Police took 9 cadets and accompanying people to Florida to compare Policing and bring back learning to implement into their cadet units. Through volunteering and community service opportunities the cadets were able to develop a wide range of skills and gain confidence whilst meeting new friends and learning about their culture.
On their return the young cadets shared their experiences on why they wanted to take part in an international exchange and the impact this has had. Dylan tells us more about the experience.
My time as a Volunteer Police Cadet has offered me some invaluable opportunities to improve my confidence and given me so many character-building experiences. As someone who previously struggled with social skills and often shied away from unfamiliar situations, I knew that the exchange trip would be fundamental in progressing my inner confidence and self-esteem. I also wanted the opportunity to experience international travel; having only been abroad twice, when I was very young, my perspective of international travel was limited, and I would subconsciously fear that new surroundings in a different country could be unsafe or dangerous. This is something I wanted to change and going on this exchange trip allowed me to realise how important it is to experience international cultures and all walks of life which in turn, has made me realise how exciting and interesting it is to travel abroad. As our exchange was to the United States, I really wanted to see how the States compare to the UK, when considering that many parts of our culture have American influences, such as fast food and entertainment. Overall, I wanted to take part in the exchange to develop my independence and interpersonal skills as well as exploring a different culture and overcoming my dread of international travel.
As part of our international exchange, we took part in some insightful and educational experiences and volunteering. As a group, we volunteered at the Boys and Girls clubs of Central Florida. For many, including myself, this gave us the opportunity to learn how to engage with young children faced with many distractions from the modern technological era. It was interesting to learn about the games they play and how they spend their free time, but also to see how initiatives like the Boys and Girls clubs provide children with a safe and protected space to relax, and give peace of mind to their parents that they are doing something worthwhile with a team of trusted adults.
We also visited Give Kids the World (GKTW), an adventure style park designed to provide families with critically or terminally ill children some respite and peace in a park equipped with accessible features and staff who adequately understand the difficulties they face. What surprised me about this park was how supportive the workforce were when considering that many are all unpaid volunteers who choose to support these families. The community spirit represented here was commendable, and I was proud to support the park’s operations for a shift by staffing the arcade and games area. Having conversations with the families coming in and understanding their circumstances altered my perceptions of how difficult life can be for people who have, or care for, people with some horrible medical illnesses, but also how grateful they are to have facilities like GKTW to rely on when they need a break and some time to recuperate.
Aside from volunteering, we were grateful enough to receive a tour of The Walt Disney Company’s security taskforce at their operations centre in Orlando. It was a very interesting opportunity to understand the dedication and hard work that goes into making sure that the park, and the 100,000+ guests that visit each day are safe around the clock. The team were incredibly knowledgeable in their field, and we learnt that many of their security team have experience from military or naval backgrounds. What was astonishing was the number of subtle yet impactful defences and systems they have in place that thousands of people walk past yet never realise are there for the purposes of safety, not design.
We also spent some time with the explorers from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office who were very welcoming towards us and we were able to share stories, experiences and educate each other on life in Florida and in Wales. All of us, including the explorers from Florida, learnt lots about our culture and different things we do in Wales such as our mountains, national parks, famous symbolic items such as our dragon, flag and daffodil. We also discussed some broader topics like our different style of policing and comparisons were made to the different risks we face in Wales compared to that of the United States as a whole.
Everyone who went on this trip took away a lot of new skills and memories that will last a lifetime. I had the opportunity to understand what it’s like to live away from family, take care of myself but particularly, I had to step up my time management skills to ensure that I was ready to leave on time and didn’t delay the group plans. As someone who can often do things at their own pace, this meant that coming home, I’ve become more punctual. Speaking to different people while on this trip made me realise how friendly people really are and having come home, I even find myself just being more polite and open and saying hello to different people and being a bit more social when in coffee shops for example and especially in my role as a police cadet, speaking more comfortably to police officers and staff that I’m familiar with both while in uniform.
The highlight of this trip for me was having the opportunity to represent Gwent Police at the opening ceremony of the Florida Sheriff Explorers Association by co-delivering a presentation on behalf of our group to a significant audience. For me, this was a significant development opportunity for my confidence and a chance to put my public speaking training, that I’ve had through the Seren programme at my school, to practise. I felt incredibly proud of myself for standing on the stage and speaking to such an audience with formality and professionalism. It was an experience I’ll remember, and it has made me more inclined to present to an audience in the future should the opportunity arise.
As mentioned previously, I was once fearful and concerned about international travel because of how different the environments would be. When we touched down in Orlando, I was beginning to settle into the new surroundings and just in the airport, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like America. However, since coming back, I’ve thought numerous times about how and when I’d like to return, even contemplating the chance to move out there in the future. It was a bittersweet goodbye when we left having adapted to the American way of life and slightly disappointed to come home to the UK. As such, this exchange trip has changed my perspective of international experience entirely. It’s also made me consider whether I choose to study a degree in the near future that involves an international placement as an opportunity to revisit the United States. This is something that prior to the exchange trip I’d have avoided completely.
