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.