Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 09/05/2

Following a successful bid to the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme, Cornwall County Fire Brigade is able to expand its community safety and youth work to specific neighbourhoods in West Cornwall.

The Big Lottery Fund ‘Reaching Communities Programme’ funds projects that identify the needs of, and actively involve members of the community. These projects help those most in need including the hard to reach.

Cornwall County Fire Brigade’s new community safety team will be set up in West Cornwall and their aim will be to achieve the following;

• Give people a better chance in life, improving life skills through access to training and development
• Build stronger communities, encouraging people to work together to tackle their problems.
• Improve rural and urban developments that communities can easily access and enjoy
• Promote healthy living

Matt Littmoden, Chief Fire Officer said: “Cornwall County Fire Brigade’s previous experience of working with young people allowed us to recognise many other issues impacting on their lives. Through initiatives like The Phoenix Project we identified a need to provide support and assistance to parents and the community where they live. We now have the opportunity to achieve this following the award of £235,897 from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG).
Tim Cocks Phoenix Project Leader said: “The Phoenix Project has been working with young people since 2002. Our successful youth programmes help to raise self esteem and aspirations, improve confidence, promote school participation, improve social inclusion and reduce anti-social behaviour and alcohol misuse”

Project Manager Station Officer Graham Warren added: “The experience we have gained working with these young people gave us the inspiration to apply for lottery funding. The award from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities Programme will help us to expand our work with children and their parents over a sustained period for long term benefits to their communities”

People of all ages will be able to take part in fire fighting training activities. The brigade will also be offering mentoring and parenting programmes. These activities help to raise confidence, improve communication skills and enhance problem solving abilities, giving those taking part a sense of achievement.

Over the next few months Cornwall County Fire Brigade will begin to work with identified communities in West Cornwall to help them achieve a safer, improved quality of life.