COMMUNITY-minded young people looking for a career, might well be interested in the chance to join the West Mercia Police Cadets.

West Mercia Police force is on the lookout for Year 11 students with an interest in policing and making a difference in the local community to join its volunteers scheme and gain some important experience.

The scheme has been running in parts of the West Mercia area for more than 18 years, with a unit meeting every Thursday evening at Redditch Police Station, and cadets will get the chance to take part in a variety of activities including self-defence training, marching, fitness and role-playing, as well as getting the opportunity to join in with team building and outward bound weekends, all of which help to build up skills useful in the police force.

The cadets will also gain a valuable insight into police life through talks from working officers from different departments and agencies, and by taking part in local community policing events.

The young people will be able to develop discipline, friendship and teamwork, while making a difference to their community and developing themselves for any future career, and they can also gain a qualification in leadership and team skills through the Institute of Leadership & Management, while taking part in the scheme.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police, said: "Cadets are a family where discipline, friendship and team work are all important. By being a police cadet, you have the satisfaction of knowing that as a young person you are making a difference to your community and developing yourself for any future career."

West Mercia Police are looking to recruit 14 new cadets for the September 2014 intake. Applicants for the scheme, which lasts two years, must be 16, and have finished secondary education. As part of the recruitment process, they will be required to fill in an initial application form, attend a formal interview and take part of the Police Initial Recruitment Test.

For more information on becoming a cadet or to download an application form, visit westmercia.police.uk/policecadets/ or follow the cadets on Twitter @wmerciacadets.

Application forms must be returned by Sunday, April 6.