Both parties got a lot out of this project. I look forward to doing it again.
Ian Tonner, Rugby Area Risk Team
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service joined forces with Positive about Young People (PAYP) to offer a unique opportunity to some of the county’s young people.
‘Positive about Young People’ is a partnership between Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire Police, amongst other agencies, working with young people. The programme helps young people by giving them something positive to do and an opportunity to give something back to their community.
The Rugby Area Risk Team, based at Rugby Station, saw an opportunity to work with PAYP staff to deliver the Good Days 2 Project with fire service personnel acting as positive adult role models.
The project incorporated exercises involving equipment used at the fire station such as ladder hoses, extinguisher training at a chip pan fire demonstration, live rescues from water, water safety instruction, driver training and rescuing victims of road accidents by cutting the cars.
Other projects included artwork, where wooden boards were decorated to display fire safety messages, a photography project where images of Rugby’s history were recorded by the young people to enhance the fire station at Rugby and some gardening was done at the station which will be continued after the project by station personnel.
Nathan Burrows was one of the young people on the project and speaks very highly of the project. He said: “I have enjoyed coming here and have not been in any trouble for a long time. When I started I wouldn’t say I had any ambition but now I would like a career in the army as a mechanic.”
Daniel Dempsey was also involved in the project. He is looking at a career in the army but revealed a further ambition for the future. He said: “I had a great time with the men here. They helped us and we worked with them and we got on well and got things done. In the future, I wouldn’t mind being a Young Firefighters Association instructor.”
Ian Tonner is the group manager for Rugby Area Risk Team based at Rugby Fire Station. He had no hesitation in taking on the young people, despite some of the problems they had had, and found his faith rewarded.
He said: “Some of these young people have difficult lives. They have problems and you can do one of two things; you can keep your distance or you can offer them an opportunity.
“Thankfully, Rugby Area Risk Team did the latter. The lads have come on leaps and bounds. We’ve established a real bond with them and, whilst they may not like me saying it, they have developed a real respect for authority figures. Both parties got a lot out of this project. I look forward to doing it again.”
Jordan Carroll, Shane Singleton and Jordan Staple were also involved in the project. The partners wish to acknowledge their contribution to making the project a success.