Rockets In Their Pockets

An early intervention and prevention programme aimed at nipping anti-social behaviour in the bud has been delivered to a group of 10-13 year-olds at a residential camp near Pentre Ifan. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ‘Rockets in your Pockets’ scheme which has been running for a number of years targets youngsters across the county who may be at risk of being drawn into reckless behaviour. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Run by Pembrokeshire County Council in conjunction with Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Dyfed Powys Police and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, the four day course conveyed a range of safety messages relating to the consequences of crime and the reckless lighting of fires, playing with fireworks and the dangers posed by aerosols. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The residential aspect of the programme also affords workers an opportunity to develop group and team work skills, as well as those associated with communal living and community awareness. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We want to develop constructive relationships between young people and key members of the emergency services that helped to deliver this programme,” said Pembrokeshire County Council community youth worker Nick Hudd. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s all about prevention through practical learning in a controlled manner. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Most of the course is held outdoors meaning the Fire Service can demonstrate the dangers of fire, the Police can highlight the consequences of anti-social behaviour and the National Park Ranger can provide examples of the opportunities on offer to young people in terms of utilising the outdoors constructively. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“For some who attended, this is the first time they have experienced aspects of what the outdoors can offer.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Highlight of the course for many was the large firework display provided free of charge by Westcoast Fireworks, who combined their impressive display by showing the consequences of misusing fireworks on ‘guys’ made by the young participants. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Their talk on the misuse of fireworks was enlightening,” added Nick. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“You don’t realise the safety measures they as a company have to take and it really hit home how dangerous fireworks can be.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​