Volunteer cadets
South Yorkshire volunteer police cadets represent the force at community events and participate in a variety of activities and formal training, as well as learning about various roles within the police.
Applications for cadets
Cadet recruitment is closed.
What you will learn as a cadet
During the scheme you will explore the following subjects:
- citizenship
- personal development
- police powers
- road safety
- personal safety
- diversity issues
- crime prevention
- drug law and connected issues
- radio/communications
- theft/criminal damage
- public order/sporting events
Expectations of cadets
You will be expected to:
- dress smartly and wear appropriate uniform when attending cadet evenings and other events
- adhere to force policy on dress and personal appearance at work, which covers hair - for example no shaved areas/patterns, natural coloured hair only, long hair tied up in a bun - facial hair, jewellery, cosmetics and tattoos
- supply your own plain black shoes/boots which must be worn with black socks
- attend a weekly district meeting held on a Wednesday evening and volunteer for additional activities that may take place at evenings and weekends
- be punctual at all times and inform the cadet manager if delayed for any reason
- participate in no acts likely to bring discredit on either the South Yorkshire Police volunteer cadets or South Yorkshire Police
- successfully pass a probationary period
Please note that you may also be subject to background checks as part of the recruitment process.
Eligibility
- For the next recruitment window, you must be age 15 by 31 August 2026 and no older than age 17 on 31 May 2026
- You need to live in South Yorkshire.
Induction
All successful candidates must complete:
- One induction day - Monday 27 July 2026 or Monday 10 August 2026
- One First Aid course - Tuesday 28 July 2026 or Friday 31 July 2026 or Tuesday 11 August 2026
Start date
The next cadet programme starts on 9 September 2026.
Please see the below timeline of the next cadets recruitment window:
- Recruitment opens - Wednesday 1 April 2026
- Interviews - Wednesday evenings during June 2026
- Induction and First Aid training - July and August 2026
- Cadet programme begins - Wednesday 9 September 2026