This week ITV's This Morning launched You Can Be Heroes Week with the help of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

The week long campaign hopes to maintain and build on the incredible goodwill and enthusiasm generated by the Games-makers during the Olympics - by encouraging people to become volunteers.

And their message couldn't be more timely, as Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service currently has a number of volunteering opportunities with cadet schemes.

The Fire Service runs a number of successful youth initiatives that offer exciting opportunities.

Cadets have been set up on fire stations in Greater Manchester for more than 20 years and there are currently 165 young people meeting on stations every week.

They take part in a range of firefighter-related activities such as drills and community projects which helps them develop key fire service principles such as teamwork, respect, self-confidence and communication. They also represent the UK in international competitions, with Farnworth and Ramsbottom Cadets representing the UK in Mulhouse, France, in July this year.

These projects not only offer exciting opportunities for young people but helps build closer links between them and the Service which in turn helps reduce antisocial fire behaviour such as hoax calls, attacks on crews and deliberate fires.

But to make these cadet schemes success, team leaders and instructors are needed.

Mark Lowe is a cadet instructor at Leigh. He said: "I have gained a massive amount from working with these young people and they have achieved so much over their time at cadets.
"As an instructor it has been a privilege to work with them during such an important time in their lives."

Being a team leader or instructor is a voluntary position but it's a chance to develop some additional skills and contribute to these worthwhile community initiatives.

Anyone with a few hours a week to spare who would like to volunteer can get information and apply through the jobs vacancy board at: http://manchesterfire.gov.uk/working_for_us.aspx