Profile: Andrew Kelly - vet by day, Special by night
You might think being manager of the RSPCA's Stapeley Grange
Wildlife Centre and cattery as well as being married with young
children would mean you're far too busy to volunteer. However,
people like Dr Andrew Kelly, still find time to get involved in
their community.
Andy manages 25 staff at Stapeley Grange which has dealt with
over 5,000 casualties of 150 species each year, with mute swans
being one of the most common admissions. This and the 600 hedgehogs
nursed back to health and released in to the wild every year, not
to mention the hundreds of felines needing to be cared for while
they are waiting to be re-homed; make for a hectic and demanding
job.
Andy juggles this commitment and his family life with
volunteering as a Special Constable for about 40 hours a month.
He said: “It's a chance to get stuck in instead of complaining.
You're actually out there doing something about it yourself. It is
hard work balancing family life, volunteering and working, but it's
very rewarding. And as they say, if you want something doing, ask
somebody who's busy.”
He works in the Eastern area of the county and has recently been
promoted to Inspector. The skills he has managing the staff at the
wildlife hospital and cattery are perfect for his role as
inspector.
He said: “I don't have the same role as a Police Inspector in
that I don't have knowledge of all the laws, my job is to manage
the Specials based in Crewe and Nantwich, making sure they are made
the most of by the neighbourhood policing units. That's 30
constables and four sergeants.”
“Specials are a valuable resource. We've got the same powers as
a regular officer. Initially there is 15 weeks of intensive
training at weekends and in the evenings, and then regular ongoing
training.”