- Posted in Fire Blog
FIREFIGHTERS in Gorton are inspiring young people to
focus on their futures with a new course that has been
launched.
Five young people aged between 14 and 19 took part in a six week
project at Gorton Community Fire Station and completed the course
earlier this month.
The youngsters were from the Gorton STEPS project at the West
Gorton Youth Centre and the crews put on a Mini Firefighter Course
for the group.
The six-week programme of two hour sessions followed a
structured curriculum and set of lesson plans.
Gorton Station Manager Stuart Millington said: "The feedback
from the project leaders has been really positive with one
particular young man becoming more focused on preparing for his
future than ever before.
"Due to the success of the course, there has been a request to
roll it out in other locations and, initially, this will take place
in Moss Side, Philips Park and Withington."
The project sessions have been shared by all watches at the
station and they have mixed practical sessions, where they get
involved in the training and techniques that firefighters use in
their day-to-day roles, along with more theoretical sessions to
challenge them mentally.
Some of the areas covered included team building exercises to
get them to work together to get themselves out of a scenario-based
predicament together, they used the equipment from the fire engines
and trained in skills that will be of value to the young people way
beyond their time with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
such as first aid and CPR.
The group even had to build and fill a dam together!
Due to the success and positive feedback from both those
attending and the STEPS coordinators, it is hoped that the
initiative will run in other parts of Manchester in partnership
with other Manchester fire stations.
Philips Park crews are planning to run a course in Newton Heath,
Moss Side firefighters hope to run a course in Hulme and
Withington watches will run a course in West
Didsbury while another set of sessions will take place in
Gorton.