Les, 72, and Raene, 26 volunteer with Greater Manchester Police as part of the ‘Scambusters’ team.
Les:
I am part of the original intake of Scambuster volunteers and have been working with GMP since September 2018, after having seen an advert on Facebook.
I am a victim support volunteer in the Economic Crime Unit, and my work is contacting victims of scams, offering help, advice and support and making sure they don't get scammed again. We also do community events speaking to up to 100 people and taking questions while representing Greater Manchester Police. I have always been interested in the work of the police so this was a great opportunity for me to get involved.
Volunteering has opened up a new world for me and I feel privileged to have seen the inner workings of the force and the dedication of people in the Economic Crime Unit. Volunteering can sometimes be frustrating, as some people don't want to be helped and it's impossible to help everyone, but is equally rewarding, particularly when people show their appreciation for my help and for the police. I also find attending public events and speaking to lots of people exciting.
The thing I enjoy most is supporting people when they are at their weakest and need help, and having the skills and training to be able to offer help when it is needed. My best memory of working with the Scambusters so far is shaking hands with the Chief Constable at an awards ceremony. It was amazing to be recognised for our effort and to feel our work was contributing to the wider force.
I would tell anyone thinking of volunteering to absolutely do it. You will need to make an adjustment to your time, but the rewards far outstrip any inconvenience.
What song best sums up your volunteering experience:
I'd probably say Everybody Hurts by REM, as I think this reflects our understanding when we speak to victims and listen to how they have been affected by fraud.
Raene:
I joined the Scambusters in October 2020. I had initially applied for a different volunteering role in GMP but was unable to start due to the pandemic, and the volunteer coordinator told me about the Scambuster role which I decided to take up instead.
I want to have a career with the police so volunteering was a good opportunity to gain internal experience and gain an understanding of the organisation while I work on my degree. I also really wanted to help people!
My role is to contact victims of fraud, give advice on how not to become a victim again, to offer support, answer questions and refer for extra support if needed. Sometimes it is just to have a chat to check in, especially with older victims and during the pandemic, where we may be the only person who has been in touch for a bit. I think this work also makes the police more approachable.
I think volunteering has made me more empathetic, and it has taught me new skills when speaking to people and listening properly. It has also taught me more about the police. I enjoy the opportunity to speak to different people, and it is very rewarding to feel like I have helped someone or when they show appreciation for my help and advice.
My favourite memories when I think of my volunteering work are making connections with people and making calls that turn into quite long, personal conversations. I love listening about people's lives and I have been told some hilarious stories.
I would recommend volunteering to anyone, especially young people in education. This is an amazing opportunity for work experience in the field you want to go into and an insight into the working world. I think it also gives people in retirement something to do regularly. Working with the Scambusters makes me happy and I am proud to be able to help people when they need it.
