Student Profile – Rebecca Cowling - BSc Forensic Psychology,  MSc Forensic Investigation

I started my volunteering at Teesside University after reading a poster in the lecture halls asking for volunteers to go into prisons and mentor offenders.  After contact with CVP I began the training session which lasted for 8 weeks. The training was very intensive but very enjoyable especially the trainers weekly quiz, however unfortunately my team never won! The training gave me a recognised achievement and it gave me the confidence that I needed to be able to walk into a prison and be a mentor.

I thoroughly enjoy my voluntary work for NACRO, so when I saw a poster about a project with Cleveland Police called “Beware of the Bogeyman” I jumped at the chance of being involved. I already had background knowledge of distraction burglaries through my course and I was horrified at the effects of this crime upon the victims mainly elderly and vulnerable. After such a touching and disturbing talk from Brian Steele who was an ex-Chief Superindent and a recognised expert on Doorstep Crime and the Beware of the Bogeyman project, I knew that I wanted to take part in making the elderly aware of this terrible crime.

Over the past two years I have given a video presentation to over a hundred people about distraction burglaries, and made them aware that they can prevent themselves being victims. After the presentation we all get a delicious roast dinner which always goes down well with the visitors and the volunteers! At dinner it gives us the opportunity to talk to the visitors and try to reduce the barrier between the young and old.

I have never done anything so rewarding in my life than be a volunteer with Beware the Bogeyman you really are saving the lives of many people!