Hartlepool PCSO thanked for service to mental health

PCSO Bell alongside staff and residents at Eamont Terrace

A Hartlepool based PSCO was praised this week by residents at a supported housing service for people living with mental health problems.

Staff and service users at Eamont Terrace, a service run by Richmond Fellowship the national charity making mental health recovery reality, joined together to thank PCSO Andrew Bell who has been instrumental in helping them over the last five years.

PCSO Bell first became involved with the service after residents found themselves the victims of crime and being targeted in the local area, providing them with support and reassurance.

He said: “I first got involved with Eamont Terrace in a professional capacity due to some of the problems people using the service had experienced after being the target of abuse in the community.

“I know a few of the people who use the service from working in the local area and I was very impressed with all the support they were getting from Richmond Fellowship.

“After spending more time with the people here, helping out in my spare time and supporting them, they opened up and started talking to me about things going on in their life and confiding in me as a figure of trust.”

PCSO Bell is moving onto a new role in London, and everyone at the service got together to throw a ‘cops and robbers’ themed party to thank him.

PCSO Bell added: “To help people and to help make an impact on the community is what policing is all about and I’m proud to have helped the people here over the past few years. Everyone here has a special place in my heart and I’m really sad I’m leaving.”

Fintan Wardell, support worker at Eamont Terrace, said: “Andy has provided invaluable support to Eamont Terrace for the last five years, helping to deal with nuisance behaviour in the neighbourhood and giving advice and reassurance to tenants who have been victims of crime or have been at risk due to their vulnerability.

“As well as carrying out his community policing duties, Andy has also involved himself in activities with everyone here including a sponsored charity walk which raised money for the children’s breakfast club at a local community.

“Dedicated and caring individuals such as Andy keep us safer and build trust between communities and the Police service so he will be missed but we wish him well in his new role.”

Learn more about our service at Eamont Terrace

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