Appropriate Adult (CSVA)

Volunteer Appropriate Adults help young people and vulnerable adults who are in a custody centre. Many of the individuals you may meet may have mental health issues.

This is done through making contact with the adult or young person, checking they understand their rights, supporting them during interview and during the immediate outcome, and checking the custody record.

Volunteers may also be present for other procedures such as identity parades, fingerprint searches, DNA sampling and photographing.

The role of the appropriate adult is not to provide legal advice but to offer impartial support and be a friendly face in the absence of a family member or carer, to people who may be feeling frightened, bewildered, and confused in an unfamiliar situation. You will receive AA training and attend meetings to ensure you feel confident. 

Volunteers need to commit to a regular six hour slot per week and one weekend shift per month.  It would be useful if they could cover at least two out of the main police stations in Surrey. You must be willing, where necessary, to challenge the police on any actions or decisions you feel are unsuitable in a specific case As an appropriate adult you'll join a team of local volunteers and will be on call at times to suit you. 

It is essential that our volunteers attend training sessions before 'going it alone' in custody and continue to attend regular training events throughout their volunteering commitment

The stations being Guildford, Salfords and Staines .Therefore your own transport may be necessary. We are looking for volunteers who can offer us a long term commitment.

What skills do I need?

You must be aged 30 or above and have your own reliable transport or live within 15 minutes walking distance of the allocated custody suite.

No formal qualifications are required.

We are looking for people who have time to offer to the scheme, who are flexible and ideally have their own transport and who have a mature outlook.

Volunteers will need to have life skills, be non-judgemental and clear thinking with the ability to remain emotionally detached.

No formal qualifications are required.

We are looking for people who have time to offer to the scheme, who are flexible and ideally have their own transport and who have a mature outlook.

Volunteers will need to have life skills, be non-judgemental and clear thinking with the ability to remain emotionally detached.

The role would require a long term commitment