This week, This is Haslemere met up with local Haslemere resident Louise Charlton to find out more about the Surrey Appropriate Adult Volunteer Service (SAAVS).

The Appropriate Adult Volunteer Service (SAAVS) has been operating in Surrey since 1995 providing a support service, day and night, 365 days a year, for children and vulnerable adults detained in police custody. It is managed by a company called BraveSpace.

Every Appropriate Adult is DBS checked and given training before joining the team. They cover Surrey’s custody suites in Salfords, Guildford and Staines. Although Appropriate Adults work independently, mentors are on hand to provide support and guidance and ongoing training is given on a regular basis. The service SAAVS provide is 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. Each volunteer is responsible for a regular weekly time slot of 8 hours when they are available to attend their designated custody suite.

Louise has lived in Haslemere for 10 years and has been volunteering as an Appropriate Adult for over 3 years. She came across the organisation whilst searching online for a suitable volunteering role. With a keen interest in the justice system, particularly concerning vulnerable adults and youth justice, it immediately sounded like the perfect opportunity. 

Louise explained, 'My role as an Appropriate Adult is to be a friendly face for someone who may be frightened, bewildered, confused and in an unfamiliar situation. Appropriate Adults facilitate communication between detainee, solicitor and police whilst remaining impartial and offering welfare support. I have seen many vulnerable adults and children in custody and helped them through the process. This can involve helping them understand their rights and entitlements, supporting them through the interview or making sure that their welfare needs are met.' 

It's clear from speaking to Louise that this is an incredibly worthwhile and rewarding volunteer opportunity, and her passion for helping others shines through.

In fact, Louise got so much out of the role that, since March 2024, she has also been working for the service as a Volunteer Co-Ordinator. Amongst other things, this involves populating a working roster which is linked to police custody to ensure the smooth running of their 24 hour a day service.

SAAVS currently have approximately 40 volunteers but they are always looking for more. If you are interested in getting involved, they run regular training session throughout the year providing you with the skills you would need. So what do they look like in a volunteer and would you be suitable? Louise told us that, 'All sorts of people become Appropriate Adults and bring different skills to the teams. The one thing each of them has in common is an excellent ability to communicate and a willingness to donate some of their free time to SAAVS.'

If this is a volunteering role that is of interest, you can find more information about SAAVS on their website, including a no obligation registration form. Louise or one of the team would be delighted to tell you a bit more about the role so please do get in touch with them today.