Date: 27th October, 2021
A Swindon fire cadet has been named as one of this year’s Young Achievers by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Covid restrictions meant the Service couldn’t hold a physical awards ceremony this year, but Chief Fire Officer Ben Ansell was able to visit Swindon fire station last week to present Kieran Tilling with his certificate.
Kieran was a fire cadet in 2019-20 and was nominated for the honour by Youth Intervention Coordinator Nicky Parker.
She said: “Kieran had to overcome extreme anxiety when he first started with us, but his confidence soon soared, and he was encouraged to help other cadets and demonstrate tasks. He was also an enthusiastic participant in the various social action projects, such as the Big Sleep Out, where the cadets slept overnight in the fire station yard to support a local homelessness charity.”
Nicky added: “Kieran found the first few weeks of lockdown very difficult but continued with cadets online and completed weekly challenges and all remaining coursework, then becoming a ‘tester’ and ‘evaluator’ for tasks, challenges and activities that were developed for future online learning. He is continuing to help us trial new resources and challenges that we can use with cadets in the future, as he enjoys the work, and understands what and who it is needed for.”
The Young Achiever Award this year was sponsored by Wiltshire College, and a Poole student also received recognition for his involvement with Dorset fire cadets. Anyone under the age of 18 who has participated in one of the Service’s youth engagement programmes can be considered for the award.
More about the schemes run by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/youth-engagement-programmes
