PAPER E
FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE – 20 SEPTEMBER 2004
PROGRESS
REPORT OF THE YOUNG FIREFIGHTER SCHEME
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR FIRE,
EMERGNECY PLANNING AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
REASON FOR SELECT
COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
The Select Committee were supportive in the Fire and Rescue Service’s
bid for SRBVI Funding to set up a pilot Young Firefighter Scheme at Ryde Fire
Station. This has now been running for
a year and this report informs the committee of the achievements and the
planned way forward.
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
To note the progress so far and support the
continuation of the Scheme
BACKGROUND
The Fire and Rescue Service nationally has been running these schemes
since 1987 and they have been extremely successful. The Isle of Wight applied for SRBVI funding to pilot a scheme at
Ryde, with the expectation to roll it out to our other Fire Stations.
The aims of the scheme are as follows:
·
To educate young people in the
dangers of fire and to encourage safe practice both in their home and within
the community
·
To give them the skills to be
able to recognise danger signs and risks.
·
To develop the Young Firefighter
to enable them to work with other people and to be an effective member of a
team.
·
To provide Young Firefighters
with basic firefighting skills and an awareness of safe practices. They will be taught what to do if they
discover a fire.
The activities to achieve these aims include structured training and coaching,
team building exercises and games, demonstrations, trips and visits,
competitions etc.
The Young
Firefighters’ Scheme is open to children between the ages of 11 and 17 and
takes place for two hours on a weekday evening at the Fire and Rescue Services’
Fire Station/Training Centre at Ryde.
Activities are centred on firefighting skills that encompass social,
physical and vocational activities. As
well as firefighting skills and fire safety training there are activities such
as camping, outward-bound etc. There
are local, regional and national competitions that will involve travel to the
mainland therefore widening the horizons and aspirations of those children
involved.
20 children
have enrolled with a reserve waiting list of at least 10 young people. A large proportion of these have been
referred from Ryde High School as being young people that will particularly
benefit from the activities and structured learning that this scheme gives.
Retained Firefighters and Fire Service Support staff instruct the
children on a weekly basis. A Youth
Co-ordinator has been employed on a part-time basis to oversee the project and
co-ordinate all the activities. Her
salary is part of the grant funding. Support staff provide ancillary back-up in
welfare, finance, administration and general assistance. Other members of the community are
encouraged to assist in their particular field of expertise, or as a general
helper.
The scheme has been running for a year and has been extremely
successful. A few learning points have
arisen throughout the year and these have been acted upon and has enhanced the
experience for the future.
Milestones for the year have been:
·
Started in May 2003 with 17
cadets between 11 and 16 years old.
·
All cadets are provided with a
uniform, both protective tunics, trousers, boots and gloves for fire ground
activities and polo tops and fleeces for other activities – and of course
protective helmets.
·
A Passing Out Parade was held in
June where all cadets received certificates of achievement. Following this the numbers rose to 20.
·
Weekly training is given in
ladder work, hose work, hydrants and regular drilling.
·
During the summer several
activities took place, including participation at the Ryde Carnival, a camping
trip to Pondwell Campsite and ten-pin bowling as well as fire safety
instruction.
·
Guests speakers at meetings
included representatives from the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and the
Ambulance Service.
·
Trips were arranged to Bembridge
Life Boat, St Johns Railway Station and the Fire Control Centre in Newport.
·
Some headway is being made on
enrolling cadets in a BTEC scheme thought this is proving very time
consuming.
A new project has been started in Ryde Cemetery where the grave of a
Ryde Retained Firefighter from World War 1 has been neglected over the
years. The cadets are restoring the
grave area and carrying out general maintenance in the area throughout the
year.
Future Plans
This year a camping trip to the mainland for a few days in the summer
holidays and some community work over the next few months is planned and close
liaison with Ryde Forum will assist this process.
RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
A comprehensive Policy has been produced and
published for this scheme covering all aspects of safety, child protection and
financial management.
CONSULTATION PROCESS
During the setting-up process we consulted with Ryde
Forum, Ryde High School, the Youth and Community Service, the Drug Action Team
and of course the Island Partnership in their facilitation of the funding
application.
FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER
IMPLICATIONS
Fund Raising
We have been informed by SEEDA that although there is some funding this
year, it will not continue in 2005. We
are therefore looking at other funding sources and in the process of applying
for funding from Connexion and the National Fire Services Youth Training
Association.
The cadets have already carried out fund raising activities by holding
a collection at Tesco, selling toy helmets at the Carnival and making and
selling greeting cards. Activities for
the future include a car wash, taking part in the Great South Run, the Carnival
and carrying out a display at Coleman’s Animal Farm during the summer months.
The Rotary Club and Ryde has expressed a wish to contribute and
meetings are planned to explore this further.
There is concern that funds will not be sufficient to support the
continuance of this highly successful scheme into 2005.
Cowes Fire Station has expressed interest in starting a scheme and this
will mean exploring funding opportunities in that area.
None used in the preparation of this report.
Contact Point : Richard Hards, Chief Fire Officer, ' 823199, e-mail [email protected]
Jan Alexander, Corporate Services Manager ' 823198
e-mail [email protected]
CLLR DAVID KNOWLES
Portfolio Holder
for Fire, Emergency Planning and Consumer Protection