Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 05/07/2010 09:55

A group of year 9 children from Richard Lander School will ‘pass out’ at Truro Community Fire Station on Tuesday 6 July as they are celebrated for completing a year long Phoenix Project programme with Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service.

The official presentation will commemorate the work the students completed during the year on ‘The Phoenix Project’ where they have attended sessions including team building exercises; dealing with a road traffic collision scenario; a Road Accident Awareness Programme and talking about anti social behaviour.

The Phoenix Project has been run by the fire service since 2002 and enhances young people’s self-confidence, communication skills and community spirit.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service’s Scott Brown from the Phoenix Project said: “The fire service commits itself to developing skills for every child and these young people from Richard Lander School have shown great enthusiasm participating in all aspects of the course. We continue to use the Phoenix Project to invest in young people across Cornwall. The fire service is able to use its reputation and position of authority and respect within the community to hone young people’s team work, communication and leadership skills. The students from Richard Lander School have worked extremely hard to succeed and gain their ASDAN qualification.”

The Phoenix Project is a Cornwall wide initiative geared towards students between the ages of 13 -17. To gain their certificates the students are given training in hose running, marching, wearing breathing apparatus (BA), life skills and problem solving with the aim of building confidence and self esteem, raise aspirations and improve teamwork and communication skills.

“It’s great to see yet more young people learn not only how to become better communicators and leaders but to learn a very important fire safety message at the same time. Initiatives such as Phoenix and Supporting Community Values help us to achieve safer communities from the ground up, which is the principal aim of the service.” said Chief Fire Officer Des Tidbury.