Portland students learn about fire

The four day Team Challenge, spread over four weeks, taught 10 Year 8 pupils the benefits of working for the fire and rescue service as well as educating them on the dangers of deliberate fires and the consequences of hoax calls.

The Worksop firefighters demonstrated their work in the community and advertised fire safety in the home.

The pupils were able to learn about the dangers of fires through hand-on experience of how to search a building and run out a hose-water rescue.

Community safety advocate for Bassetlaw Robyn Ellis said it is a new initiative that is focused on prevention and education.

“The young people attending the challenge will be our ambassadors within the community- challenging inappropriate behaviour and spreading the word,” she said.

The Team Challenge consisted of 13 activities and can be tailored to suit individual needs.

Feedback from the youngsters came back positive and showed that they had gained a better understanding of the fire and rescue in the community.

“Towards the end of the challenge the pupils were working really well as a team-using team strengths to complete tasks and helping each other out where necessary,” said Robyn.

She added that by the end of the course the youngsters were very different from the quiet, shy people they were when they met on the first day.

“I would be even more pleased to see one of the young people working for the fire service in a few years time,” she said.

Notts Fire and Rescue hope to hold more of these events and have just received funding from Bassetlaw Network and Sherwood Community Safety Partnership to deliver Team Challenge across the district.