Volunteer Success Story: Kristen’s Journey from Appropriate Adult to Clinical Neurophysiology

Kristen, 24, first came across the Appropriate Adult volunteer role with Teesside Mind while browsing for meaningful ways to support others alongside her studies. As a Psychology with Counselling student at the Open University, she was drawn to the role for its relevance to her course — and its potential to make a real difference in people’s lives.

At Teesside Mind, Appropriate Adult volunteers play a vital role in supporting vulnerable adults (aged 18 and over) who are in police custody. The role exists to safeguard the rights, welfare, and fair treatment of individuals who may struggle to understand or effectively participate in the legal process. Volunteers attend custody suites across Cleveland Police on a 24/7 basis and ensure that vulnerable people are treated justly, respectfully, and with care. Shifts are flexible, typically lasting around 5–6 hours, and volunteers are asked to commit to at least one shift every two weeks — although the service is designed to accommodate individual availability.

Balancing university, a full-time job, and volunteering was no easy task, but Kristen managed it thanks to the flexibility of the Appropriate Adult role. “It slotted in really well with my schedule,” she said. “The flexibility meant I could still volunteer regularly without it being overwhelming.”

Despite not knowing exactly what to expect at first, Kristen quickly found the experience to be both rewarding and eye-opening. “Everyone I came across — from police officers to Mind staff and fellow volunteers — was incredibly supportive and welcoming. The role itself was so interesting, and I felt like I was genuinely helping people during difficult moments.”

Kristen’s dedication to volunteering didn’t go unnoticed. She recently secured a new role training as a Clinical Neurophysiologist, a competitive and highly specialised NHS career path. During her interview, she was told that the examples she gave from her experience as an Appropriate Adult played a huge part in her success.

“The feedback I received was that my volunteering experience really stood out. It gave me great real-world examples to talk about and showed my commitment to supporting vulnerable individuals.”

Kristen’s journey is a powerful example of how volunteering can open doors, build confidence, and make a lasting impact — not only on those we support, but on volunteers themselves.

If you’re considering volunteering, Kristen has a message: “Go for it! It’s such a rewarding role and you’ll learn so much — about others and yourself.”