7/5/2004 - Firefighter work experience scheme will promote self esteem

Young people in Barrow are being given the chance to experience life as a firefighter. 

Cumbria County Council’s Local Committee for Barrow is backing a work experience course for young people aged between 11 and 16 at the town’s fire station. The Committee has agreed to give £5,000 per year for two years to run the course which will be similar to a successful project already running in Workington.

It will be predominately aimed at pupils who are, or close to, being excluded from school or those who are academically less able and following vocational based education.

Councillor Alan Nicholson, Chair of Barrow Local Committee, said: 

“This course aims to increase the feeling of self worth of participants by active involvement within a disciplined, structured regime based around team work. It will be based upon tried and tested policies developed for the successful Young Firefighters Scheme currently running at Workington Fire Station.

“Experience nationally has shown that there are many positive benefits for young people who become involved with Fire Service youth training schemes, mainly in terms of personal development and increased self esteem through association with positive role models.

“This project will enable Cumbria Fire Service to offer guidance to some young people who may not otherwise be sufficiently self motivated to realise their potential.”

Referrals for attendance on the course, which will be supported by CONNEXIONS youth workers, will be arranged with the secondary schools in Barrow, Dalton and Walney, as well as direct referral from the Youth Inclusion Programme. A vetting procedure will be in place to ensure that each young person will derive the maximum benefit from inclusion on the course.

Daily activities undertaken by young people on the course will be broadly based on elements of Fire Service recruit training. The structure of each course will be flexible to ensure pupil attendance accords with school curriculum requirements.

On successful completion of the course, young people will be directed to further personal development experiences such as the Duke of Edinburgh award.