Volunteers’ Week: The work of a volunteer chaplain

 

This week, Dyfed-Powys Police has been marking Volunteers’ Week, a national celebration that recognises all the inspiring people who give up their free time to help others.

We have highlighted the work all our volunteers at Dyfed-Powys do and the huge roles they play in helping to support policing in our communities.

Whether that is volunteering as a special constable, dedicating time as a volunteer staff member or being part of our Volunteer Police Cadets, we would like to say thank you! Your contribution does not go unnoticed.  

As Volunteer’s Week draws to a close, we look at another important part of our force – our Volunteer Chaplains.

 

What are Volunteer Chaplains?

Our Chaplaincy team offers pastoral, spiritual and confidential support to individuals, and operational support to Dyfed-Powys Police.

Volunteer chaplains come from different faith backgrounds and hold ministerial roles in their particular communities. Chaplains are available to all officers, staff and volunteers and can be found across the force area - most commonly at the larger police stations and within specialist units.

Chaplains can support immediate family members too, because what affects us at home can also affect our work and vice-versa. It doesn’t matter whether you have a faith or not, the chaplains are here to serve you, no matter what your background.

Our chaplains work with all officers and staff, while retaining a certain independence from the organisational structure of the Force. From this privilege position, the chaplaincy service delivers the availability of a non-directive, non-evangelistic and non-judgemental confidential counsel.

 

“My role is mainly to provide a listening ear to anyone and everyone who needs to talk, a person of faith or no faith at all.” Meinir Loader, Volunteer Chaplain, Ammanford

 

After Meinir retired from teaching after 38 years, she wanted to continue with the pastoral element of being a head of religious studies in a secondary school. She applied to become a Volunteer Chaplain with Dyfed-Powys Police and has been in post for nearly ten years and says she looks forward to volunteering for many years to come.

What is your role?

I visit the station twice a week and also make home and hospital visits when necessary. All officers have access to my mobile telephone number and email address and I encourage them to contact me at any time if they need to talk or to arrange a visit.

Confidentiality is of the utmost importance to the role. I would never divulge a confidence unless I was told that someone’s life was at risk. I have been privileged to be told about pregnancies in the very early stages and am absolutely delighted that individuals trust me to such a degree.

My role is mainly to provide a listening ear regardless of their faith. Sadly, I have attended many funerals and prepared many eulogies at the request of the bereaved and I always attempt to provide support during the grieving process which can last many years.

 

Do you have any proud moment as a volunteer chaplain?

I am always proud to work alongside former pupils and see them progress through the ranks during their policing career. I have been invited by many officers to attend awards presentations and it is always inspirational to see the huge difference that officers make to the lives of the communities which they serve in a positive way.

A proud moment was being short listed from 170 nominations for the Lord Ferrer’s Award in 2022 which was held at Lancaster House in London. I was principal runner-up in the Volunteer of the Year category and was privileged to receive my award in such prestigious surroundings.

 

Have you faced any challenges in your role?

The greatest challenge I faced was at the beginning of my chaplaincy term. I was worried about how officers and police staff would know that I would support them, that they could trust me and that I would never divulge any information to a third party. My former pupils came to the rescue thankfully and the word quickly circulated that confidentiality was of the utmost importance to me.

 

 

“I have a heart for serving and wanted to give something back." Catrin Thomas, a lay minister serving in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

 

Catrin is a retired police officer, having served within Dyfed-Powys Police in Pembrokeshire and in Carmarthen headquarters. She decided to volunteer as a chaplain to help support officers and staff who can find themselves dealing with differing extremes of policing on a daily basis.

 

Why do you volunteer?

I am fully aware that policing can feel the best job in the world and it can be rewarding beyond measure.  However, it can be difficult as well. Each interaction and situation have to be dealt with professionally and compassionately and situations can take their toll. 

Initially, I was apprehensive about returning to the police but I have a heart for serving and wanted to give something back. I feel that the collective experiences I have gained from policing and those I have experienced after are intertwined and that ‘no experience is wasted’.  I hope and pray that I can put these experiences to good use in this role and support officers and staff compassionately. The privilege of being a police chaplain is a unique ministry.

What does your role as force chaplain involve?

Being available to listen and share.  It is about being at the end of the telephone or a text and helping officers, support staff and volunteers as well as retired or former police employees, who want to speak confidentially and meet personally to offer pastoral care.

I think it is important to sensitively know or sense when to be there and when to back off a little and never force anything.  It is also being there for those with or without a faith and to offer a complementary role to that of trained counsellors, occupational health and welfare units.

 

How rewarding is your role?

Being appointed as chaplain in the force I had previously served the public in and serving those who now serve the public is extremely rewarding.

I enjoy listening, supporting, and signposting officers and staff and gaining the trust of individuals and building friendships with them and their families.

I would like officers and staff, peers and supervisors to feel confident that they can contact me and be assured that they will be met with support, confidentiality, a listening ear and genuine care and concern.

 

How important are volunteers in the police?

Volunteers are valued members of the policing family.  Volunteers bring a wealth of experience with them and come from all walks of life. They give their time freely because they wish to serve and give back to the communities they live in and to support those who protect us. They are vital within the police family. I am grateful and proud to be able to volunteer as chaplain within the service.

 

 

“When I walk in through the front door of a station, I leave the secular world behind and focus solely on the officers and staff of Dyfed-Powys Police.”  Reverend David Yeo Poulton, is a volunteer chaplain, Llwynhendy, Burry Port and Dafen

Reverend Poulton has been a police chaplain in Dyfed-Powys Police since October 2019, having served previously with Warwickshire and North Wales constabularies.

He oversees the Drivers’ Training Unit and serves as a chaplaincy representative on the Regional Strategic Serious Violence and Organised Crime Board.

 

How fulfilling is your position?

It's very fulfilling and rewarding.  I know I am in for a good day when I leave home at 7.15am to drive to the Driver’s Training Unit (DTU) and the DS at Pembrey. While I know the courses and the staff, there is often an opportunity to observe firsthand what they teach.

 

Have there been any challenges you have faced?

I am a neurodiverse or neurodivergent person with dyslexia. A gift from God, it is not a problem for me, but I am often marginalised because I am. I can recognise faces, photos, and works of art. Remembering words, lists, directions, and phone numbers can be more challenging.

Through my role I have been able to help people going through some tough times including people who have had attempted suicide or had suicidal thoughts, an officer who survived a violent stabbing, employees who have been waiting results for cancer as well as having family members diagnosed with illness. I have also been the vicar at countless funerals as I have been the only person employees have known and trusted. It can be challenging but also rewarding knowing I can help through my role. Every one of them remains in my thoughts and prayers.

 

How important are volunteers in the police?

I love being a police chaplain, and volunteering is about giving something back to our community with a group of people who give so much of themselves, who often receive no “good news” from society. Still, society is all too quick to see the “bad.” It is a humbling experience —a privilege. However, being a chaplain is a two-way street. I am a chaplain to others, but in time, they are a chaplain to me, too.

My gift of dyslexia allows me to be a good listener. When I walk in through the front door of a station, I leave the secular world behind and focus solely on the officers and staff of Dyfed-Powys Police.

 

 

“I feel really humbled and privileged to be able to be there for some truly amazing people.” Sam Jones, Volunteer Chaplain, Newtown and Welshpool 

 

Sam has been a Salvation Army church leader in Newtown since 2001. Sam has covered Newtown and Welshpool police stations as chaplain since November 2017.

 

Describe your role as a volunteer chaplain?

My role requires a lot of listening and hearing about officers and staff's everyday life. It is important that we have a good relationship in case they need someone to listen to them. I volunteer as I believe God cares for the whole person and not just their spirituality. This is my way of caring for the whole person. 

 

How rewarding is your role?

I love being a force chaplain even when times are tough. I feel really humbled and privileged to be able to be there for some truly amazing people. 

One of my proudest achievements and where I felt really appreciated, was being part of one of the sessions attestation ceremonies. It felt very special. I was also incredibly humbled to support staff after the death of one of our own. It's not something I'd take for granted and I was glad I was able to offer some support.