CLEVELAND YOUNG
FIRE-FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION
There has been a new recruitment of Young Firefighters in the last few months and the group are working hard to master some of the basic drills they have to undertake regularly as part of the programme; with more established team members acting as peer mentors. As the group is still forming as a large team, the young people have been involved in lots of communication and team games as well as activities with the other Young Firefighters branch in Hartlepool.
The young people have been to lots of community events to raise awareness of community safety and offering residents of Redcar & Cleveland the opportunity to have a free Home Fire Safety Visit from the operational firefighters as well as offering the usual fun activities for youngsters of looking around the fire appliance and ‘squirting’ water at the targets etc.
The Young Firefighters have been raising funds for their annual camp which is taking place 3rd-7th August at Stainsacre Hall and they will be taking part in a whole host of activities including outward bounds tasks, ghost walks and trips to the beach! This camp will also host as the training camp for the young people to prepare for National Drill competitions later in the year.
There are some vacancies for young people (aged 13-17) within the Young Firefighters Association at Redcar at the moment; the group meet every Wednesday evening, 6-9pm. If you would be interested in finding out more information please contact Mick Bolster, YFA Coordinator on 01642 516383 or email him at mbolster@clevelandfire.gov.uk
Cleveland Young Fire-fighters Association (YFA) was set up in 2002. It’s a scheme which is run by Cleveland Fire Brigade to give young people from all areas of the local community, the opportunity to develop personally and socially using the Fire Brigade as a positive role model.
The aims of the YFA is to promote the Fire Service to educate and increase awareness of arson, to highlight the consequences of hoax calls, as well as promoting fire safety in the home and in the community.
It offers all Young Fife fighters (YFF’s) the opportunity to undertake the Fire Service Youth Training Association accredited B-TEC development programme.
The YFA also assists Cleveland Fire Brigade to promote fire safety messages to their families, peer groups, as well as the general public.
After joining the YFA, the Young Fire-fighter’s benefit both mentally and physically, whilst promoting self discipline, community awareness and good citizenship.
The main way the YFF’s promote Brigade safety is attending high profile local events around the area, Steel Gala, Cleveland Show, Fire engine rally ( Preston Park ) to name a few.
As well as Redcar YFA there has more recently been another branch set up at Hartlepool, (2005) each branch has places for 24 young people, 12 boys and 12 girls. They are recruited at the age 13 – 14 and can stay with the association up to the age of 17.
Most Fire & Rescue Services around the UK have similar schemes set up, and every 2 years there is a national camp where all the YFF’s get together and take part in drill competitions which results in the winners representing the UK in a European competition.