Fire And Rescue Initiative A Success With Young People

Five young people from the ESF Inspire to Achieve Project attended a fire and rescue initiative called the Phoenix Project at Cwmbran Fire Station. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Phoenix project is run by the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and is an initiative addressing issues with young people, ranging from low self-esteem and lack of confidence to anti-social behaviour. It challenges existing attitudes and promotes independent thinking by using Fire Service activities to develop personal attributes such as working as part of a team, exploring physical and mental limits and promoting and educating young people about the role of the fire rescue service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Five boys from the Inspire to Achieve Project attended the 5 day course taking part in a number of drills including pumps and hose drills, team building exercises, search and rescue and much more. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ellis Williams, aged 16 from West Mon School, said “I went on the Phoenix Project for a week. I learnt discipline, how to be well organised and how to be part of a team. I would go back if there was another course” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Senior Project Officer Sam Mills, said: ‘This activity encourages the young people to develop skills such as team work, communication and employability skills as well as learning about the risks and dangers associated with anti-social behaviour. Our aim is for young people to be able to engage with a positive and informative activity. They’ve shown great commitment in doing this, well done boys.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​