VOLUNTEERING for Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind has helped Katie Cartwright kick start her career.
Katie Cartwright, aged 23, from Manchester, is currently studying for her masters at Teesside University in Forensic Psychology, while volunteering as an Appropriate Adult.
Volunteering for Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind has helped Katie to gain the confidence to work with offenders in high profile cases with Redcar and Cleveland police, achieve First Class Honours and earn a VolunTees Award towards a Forensic Psychology career.
This opportunity was the passageway Katie needed to see if she would enjoy the specific field of work.
Katie said, “I definitely recommend anyone to volunteer for Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind, it gave me the boost I needed to fulfil my chosen career path”.
The Appropriate Adult service provides support to vulnerable individuals with mental health issues or learning difficulties, who are detained by the police.
Volunteers like Katie are required to attend police stations to ensure that detained persons are treated fairly, their welfare needs are met and they understand the procedures.
Hilary Homan, Diversion and Resettlement Lead for the service expressed “Katie has been so flexible and generous in giving her time to the service. She has dealt with some very serious cases and she provides a very strong non-judgemental attitude to the criminal justice procedures.”
Katie gained recognition for her contribution to the service by achieving ‘Volunteer of the year Award 2016’ at Teesside University’s VolunCheers Awards.
Katie also won Platinum Plus for over 250 hours’ worth of volunteering or training and currently holds 310 volunteering hours registered on ‘VolunTees’.
Darren Johnson, Chartered and Registered Forensic Psychologist and Senior Lecturer expressed that, “Throughout the time I have known Katie as an Undergraduate student at Teesside University, I have found her to have been a conscientious and hard-working student”.
“Her voluntary work with Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind has provided her with an excellent learning opportunity allowing her to apply her theoretical understanding as developed through her academic studies into practice. This experience will be valuable to her in the future and I hope she maintains her drive and positive attitude towards her future career goal”.
Katie has worked on a number of high profile cases with Redcar and Cleveland police. Detective Constable Pete Addison, who nominated Katie for a high profile case stated, “Katie’s professionalism was exemplary; it was clear that she understood fully her role as Appropriate Adult.
She is an excellent ambassador for Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind and would be an asset to any team.”
“She clearly cares about the role of Appropriate Adult and I wish her luck in the future with her chosen career”.
Katie Cartwright aims to become a chartered Forensic Psychologist in the prison service after her studies.
It’s great to hear how volunteering for Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind has helped a passionate young woman kick start her profession.