Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 01/06/2

Ben Grocock met with Tim Cocks from the Phoenix Project to say thank you for giving him the opportunity to complete their five day course.

Ben took part in the Phoenix Project course earlier this year. His teachers referred him onto the course because Ben was having difficulty communicating with anyone apart from his mum, brother and best friends.

“About ten years ago Ben was waiting in hospital for an operation. The operation upset Ben so much that after it he refused to speak to anyone” said Ben’s mum. “After a while he started to speak to his brother, his close friends and myself but he did not speak to his grandparents or anybody else”

Cornwall County Fire Brigade’s Phoenix Project was started in 2002. The outcomes of the Phoenix Project five day course includes raising self esteem and confidence, raising aspirations, promoting school participation, improving social inclusion and reducing anti-social behaviour and alcohol misuse.

This year the Phoenix Project Team – Tim Cocks, Mike Warren and Jody Butterly - are working closely with five schools:- St Ives, Falmouth, Helston, Tretherras (Newquay) and Liskeard so that they can continue their support for the young people that attend the initial five days.

The team spent a week with young people at Liskeard School in March.
“Ben’s teachers at Liskeard school thought that a week with the Phoenix team may give him the confidence to speak again” said Phoenix Project Leader Tim Cocks

Tim cont: “One of the most important things we promote on the course is effective communication. This is vital when the young people are working together to run out hose or leading each other through the breathing apparatus chamber in the dark. I was initially concerned that Ben would not be able to do this, and could not take part in the project”

Tim explained this to Ben and why it could be dangerous. Tim suggested that if he really wanted to take part perhaps he could communicate with just Tim and by the end of the first day Ben was. On the second day Tim encouraged Ben to speak to his colleagues so that he could help them perform the tasks and they could rely on him as a strong team player.

Tim added: “By the end of the week Ben had the confidence to communicate with everybody on the course. We had the ‘passing out’ parade on the Friday and the students were able to invite their parents, grandparents and teachers. Ben stood up and thanked everybody. This was the first time his grandparents had heard him speak in ten years! As you can imagine it was very emotional!”

Ben is still communicating with everybody at home and at school and his mum is extremely proud, and thankful to the Phoenix Project Team.

Ben added: “The Phoenix Project really helped me gain the confidence to speak to people again. I felt I could trust Tim because he treated me like an adult. I would really like to work with the Phoenix Team again and perhaps assist them on one of their courses”