Award for Fire Service Scheme that helps local young people

The Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service (BLFRS) Firebreak Scheme has been commended by the soLUTiONs Partnership. The success of the scheme, working with young people to promote a culture of safety and teamwork, has been recognised at an award ceremony at Luton Town Hall.

Luton's Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, known as soLUTiONs, is a partnership of organisations including BLFRS that work together in the town to address crime, anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol problems and offending.

At its first awards ceremony the Partnership recognised the outstanding contribution made by a variety of frontline staff including the Firebreak Team : Youth Development Officer Cassandra Swan and Fire Officers Alan Gaytor, Steve Sugars. Richard Beasley, Tracy Hutchinson, Neil Donahoe and Paul Cawte.

The Firebreak initiative aims to promote a culture of safety and teamwork among young people by demonstrating and encouraging positive life skills using fire service based activities as a method of delivery. Cassandra Swan and the team visited other services and agencies to develop the programme, secured resources, selected the team and helped to train them.

BLFRS Area Commander Dave Fothergill said :

"The scheme has been a great success and had a positive impact on all of the young people involved. It's a credit to all of our personnel that had responsibility for the design and delivery of the scheme that the young people came back day after day and participated fully and enjoyed the course. We now have plans to run more courses and are working with our partner agencies to identify over 60 young people that could benefit from attending future courses."

"The awards represent the value of our frontline staff from all the partner agencies and recognises those that go the extra mile to ensure our communities are safe and attractive places to live and work. The schemes and projects rewarded are a credit to all those involved for which they should be justifiably proud."

Nicola Perry, CDRP Partnership Manager, added: “It is great to know we have such dedicated people supporting local residents and taking a pride in Luton, making it a safer place for all of us.”