‘The sense of reward is huge’: cadet leader welcomes involvement from Fed members

2 July 2025

An officer who ushered in a new era for Dyfed Powys’ police cadet programme has urged Federation members to join her in building up young people with skills for life.

In 2021, PC Alison (Ali) Timothy formed part of an ambitious trio of officers attempting to take on some serious extracurricular duties within policing.

Together with her sergeant and another officer from the Ammanford neighbourhood team she belonged to, Ali was aiming to breathe new life into the Force’s youth scheme with a complete overhaul of the cadet system.

After regaining a base of members aged between 13 and 17, the group were guided by the national police cadet portal as they began delivering a curriculum which went from strength to strength in content and engagement.

 

PC Alison (Ali) Timothy.

 

Four years later, the programme now boasts six geographical units within the Force area and 25 leaders and coordinators.

“It’s been a great few years, and we are delighted our hard work and belief have paid off,” Ali said.

“Before we got involved, the cadets had been running, but it was not very well supported and worsened over the COVID pandemic. It was never a guarantee we were going to be able to turn things around, just because we had put our minds to it.

“But with some support along the way, we’ve managed to make it an initiative young people across the region can really thrive in once again – and they’re the real superstars, not us.”

Fields trip

Currently, the cadet system in Dyfed Powys runs on weekly two-hour sessions, with Ali leading its Ammanford unit from Cefneithin Hall.

The sessions, which take place in term-time only, teach skills related to both policing and law and wider life, ranging from uniform upkeep to presentation confidence.

And this is complemented by field trips, including Force building visits, charity assistance, and community assignments such as the use of speed guns on local traffic. Recreational activities also regularly take place, and residential trips are a future possibility, revealed Ali.

“For us, it’s so important that the cadets get a holistic education from us that goes beyond just policing and have as many different experiences as possible. We really try to get them up and about and out of their shells.

“The point of the programme is never for it to be a recruitment tool for the Force – as long as we are developing young people for the future, whatever that may look like, that’s all that matters.

Next generation

“With that said, there is still a sense of honour in potentially helping to bring through the next generation of officers. We currently have one cadet who is waiting for an interview with the Force, and we have our fingers crossed for him.

“Whatever they go on to do, we are so proud of all our cadets. They are a credit to our programme, and they make me so glad I decided to be part of it all.”

Ali, whose day role is now as a school police officer, elaborated on her motivation for taking on the challenge of rebuilding the cadet system.

“I’m just really enthusiastic and passionate about policing and I want to share that as much as possible. When you have colleagues with those same values, it’s easy for that to rub off on one another and get a bit of a project going,” she continued.

“I’ve been an officer for 19 years now, and I’ve experienced a lot. If I can pass some of that on to young people, they’ll see how important it is to have bravery, resilience and an eagerness to learn in life.

“In that regard especially, the cadets and my day job go hand-in-hand.”

Satisfaction

The 47-year-old went on to encourage her colleagues to uncover this same satisfaction by getting involved as a cadet leader.

She spoke about the chance to guide young people ‘on a journey’ and ‘help them reach their full potential’.

“We would always welcome more leaders to help us make an even greater impact. The support we get from the Force is great, and it’s simply a very fulfilling initiative to be in," added Ali.

“The sense of reward is just huge – we can make a fundamental difference to how they see themselves and how they handle things as adults.

“I’d really like to think our cadets could look back fondly on their time with us as they go on in life. Ultimately, that’s what it’s all about.”

Federation members interested in joining the Dyfed Powys police cadets or simply wanting more information should speak to the Force’s Volunteer Police Cadet Officer, Rhian Curtis, or contact the programme via email.

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