Teenagers celebrate graduating FireBreak course

The students have spent five consecutive days at Bognor Fire Station, working alongside professional firefighters. Throughout the duration of the week they have participated in a variety of activities such as: fire service drills, team-building exercises and life-saving first aid techniques including HeartStart training.

FireBreak is a programme run by the WSFRS Youth Projects and Education Team. It is aimed at secondary school students, encouraging them to become positive role models and consequently helping towards maintaining a safe community.

The students successfully graduated from the course on Friday (October 21st) after receiving certificates of achievement and medals at their Pass Out parade from Assisting Chief Officer, Gavin Watts. During the parade they worked together and demonstrated several drills which consisted of all the skills they have learnt throughout the week to an audience of their proud families, teachers and instructors.

WSFRS FireBreak Lead Instructor, Simon Woodland, said: “I am extremely proud to have worked with these nine young people and I am delighted to see how they have all progressed over the week and gained new skills. Each FireBreak course we do is always a great event and this one was no different. As an instructor I have found it very rewarding.

Recently we have contacted past FireBreak students to see how they found the experience and all the feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. To witness how all these young people flourish over the space of five days is always really inspiring to see and I am so thrilled that more students have completed the challenged.”

The students on this FireBreak course are from: Bourne Community College, Emsworth, West Sussex Alternative Provision College in Littlehampton, Littlegreen School, Chichester, Bishop Luffa School, Chichester, Chichester High School, The Academy, Selsey, The Regis School, Bognor, and Chichester Free School.

For more information on FireBreak courses, visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire-emergencies-and-crime/west-sussex-fire-rescue-service/fire-safety-advice-for-young-people/fire-rescue-service-youth-team.

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