Date: 23rd October, 2017
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is looking for young people from the mid and north Dorset area to join its 2018 Fire Cadet programme at Blandford fire station.
The aim of Fire Cadets is to support the development of young people, enabling them to experience something new by participating in a wide range of practical and theoretical activities in a unique firefighting-based environment.
The programme is delivered by firefighters and volunteers and will last for 20 weeks from January to July 2018. Drills will take place on a Monday evening at Blandford fire station and will involve practical and theory elements, plus community-based action and fundraising on an occasional weekend.
The course is designed to be fun, but it also challenges and develops the participants by getting them to:
- Work co-operatively within a team environment
- Gain self-esteem and self-confidence
- Improve communication skills
- Adopt a new set of personal values
- Understand the importance of safety issues and the consequences of anti-social behaviour
- Learn about fire and road safety
- Consider their community and/or a local charity
- Develop practical skills
- Improve levels of fitness
- Create or add to a portfolio of achievements
Marianne Gerety, the Youth Intervention Coordinator for Dorset, said: “Our Fire Cadet programme has shown itself to develop practical and social skills and improve confidence; it’s also an excellent starting point for young adults interested in life as a firefighter.”
The Service is keen to recruit young people in school years 9 to 11 to take part in this rewarding training scheme, which will not only be fun and enjoyable but will give the Cadets the chance to learn new personal and social skills, and also obtain a BTEC qualification. Please note that, although applications are welcome from young people across Dorset (who must commit to the Blandford venue), priority will be given to applicants from mid and north Dorset in the first instance.
It is expected that the programme will be popular and there will be an application and interview process to gain a place. Please register an expression of interest by email to Marianne Gerety – [email protected]
The cutoff date for receiving expressions of interest and completed application forms is not fixed and will depend upon the number received, so don’t delay!