Blue Light services applaud young people

Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service was last year the FIRST FRS in the UK to sponsor the “Yopeys” - Young People of the Year Awards.

This year, BLFRS is joining forces with Beds Police and the local Ambulance Trust to brand them the “Blue Light” Yopeys in Bedfordshire.

The cost-effective partnership move demonstrates activity in a key target area for BLFRS - encouraging young people to lead safer lives.

Also supporting the Yopeys in Bedfordshire are: Central Bedfordshire Council, Luton Borough Council, Bedford College and Bedford-based Blue Arrow recruitment agency . The six-month campaign will culminate in an awards ceremony to be staged at the Mansion House at Shuttleworth Park, Beds in December.

There is now a national network of Yopeys and they have come to the attention of Number Ten. New Prime Minister David Cameron has praised Yopey, saying of winners: “their common trait was their own determination; their desire to succeed; and their resolve to make a difference”.

As well as kudos, there are cash prices for those judged to be the best with £2,000 for young Bedfordshire people, aged 10-25, to win. Prizes include £1,000 for the Young Person of the Year and £250 Junior Young Person of the Year for the best entry aged up to 15.

Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller said: "Working with young people is one of the key aims of our service. We want to help them keep themselves, and their families, safe from fire in their homes, and we want to encourage them to keep themselves, and their friends, out of danger on the roads.

"We hope the Fire and Rescue Service brand and the reputation of its firefighters will be an inspiration to young people."

Founder Tony Gearing, a former national newspaper journalist who set up YOPEY to give young people a fairer image, said: “This year's YOPEY is already feeling like part of that Big Society the new Government is talking about with so many different organizations involved. Now we need more people, teachers, parents, youth workers, to get involved and nominate young positive role models they know.”

* Do you know a young person who goes that extra mile to help others and deserves recognition and the chance to win a cash prize? Nominees must be aged between 10-25, live, study, or work in Bedfordshire, and give to others in this country or abroad. To nominate log on to www.yopey.org or write to Young People of the Year, PO Box 103, Hare Street, Ware, SG9 OXD, enclosing an SAE, for an entry form. Young people can nominate friends or themselves.