How tragic loss inspired widow to give back to police
“VOLUNTEERING lets me give back to the people who never turned their backs on me when I needed them.”
These are the words of Sioned Davies-Darby from Llanelli, who has devoted a day a week to volunteering with Dyfed-Powys Police since the death of her husband two years ago.
Sioned – who works full time around her volunteer role – explained that for her, giving up time to the force gave her a purpose while she was grieving. And she has gained so much from her unpaid work that she doesn’t plan to stop any time soon.
Sioned previously worked for the police force as a paid member of staff in catering, but left to care for her husband Christian in 2017. When he died, aged 49, she made the decision to offer her time as a volunteer.
Her first position was in the learning and development department, where Christian had worked as a training police officer.
Speaking as part of Volunteers Week, Sioned said: “I had never volunteered before, but the role in learning and development gave me a purpose to get up in the morning, and a reason to get out of the house. It saved me from slipping deeper into depression.
“Through volunteering, I feel I am giving back something to the people who never turned their back on me when I needed them.”
When she needed a fresh challenge, Sioned moved to the Crime and Harm Reduction Unit (CAHRU), where she spends one day each week. Since joining the team, she has also returned to her full-time job, but is keen to keep giving back to the police.
“I undertake a variety of tasks, which vary from attending training days to organising launch events,” she said.
“As well as office-based duties, I have been out and about within the force area helping with crime prevention and also officer training.
“I’ve also gone back to working full-time, five days a week and do up to eight hours of volunteering a week on one of my days off. Working within CAHRU makes me feel that I belong to a valuable team and that I am appreciated.”
Dyfed-Powys Police currently has a team of volunteers, plus special constables and cadets, who all give up a maximum of eight hours a week to the force. Their roles range from chaplaincy and counselling, to administration and victim and witness community support.
Citizens in Policing coordinator Adele Jones said: “Our volunteers bring so much to DyfedPowys Police – they are enthusiastic, dedicated and bring knowledge from their lives outside policing that we can learn from.”
She added: “In exchange, we provide new skills and experiences for our volunteers, who might be looking to apply for employment in the future, taking a career break or who are simply looking to give back to their community.
“I would like to thank Sioned – and all our volunteers – for their time and dedication.”
To find out more about volunteering for DyfedPowys Police, email volunteers@dyfed-powys. pnn.police.uk or phone Citizens in Policing coordinator Adele Jones on 01267 226463.