Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 23/01/2008 09:19

Cornwall County Fire Brigade celebrated the success of its Supporting Community Values project with a special event at Redruth Fire Station on Friday, January 18th.

The project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund ‘Reaching Communities Programme’.

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.

The Fire Brigade was successful in its bid to the Big Lottery Fund last summer and received funds to expand its youth work to specific neighbourhoods in West Cornwall;

“Cornwall County Fire Brigade’s new community safety team was set up at the end of last summer and has been developing partnerships with neighbourhood groups in Pengegon, Redruth North, Penzance Central and Treneere.” said Project Manager Graham Warren. “On Friday, young people from Pengegon will complete the first five day course and be presented with certificates to mark their achievements”

Cornwall County Fire Brigade’s previous experience of working with young people identified the many other issues impacting on their lives. Through initiatives like The Phoenix Project, the Brigade identified a need to provide support and assistance to parents and the community where they live. It now has 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”

The new Community Safety team aims to:
• 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

Ken Yeo (Lib Dem), Executive Member for Public Protection added: “Today marks a milestone for the community values project, with young people successfully completing the first course. Over the next three years 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 with long term benefits to their communities”.

“Young people of all ages will take part in fire fighting activities, mentoring and parenting programmes and other life skill activities. These will help to raise confidence, improve communication skills and enhance problem solving abilities, providing young people with a sense of achievement, belonging and involvement with their communities.

For further information please contact Tim Cocks on 01326 318177

Related item: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=602