Salamander - young firefighters get awards

8.16.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 1st Jul 2009

Kids cutting cars

Young firefighters on the Salamander fire safety and awareness training course at Trowbridge Fire Station attended an award presentation with their families at the end of the week-long course on Friday, June 26.

The young people's experiences on Salamander included abseiling from a tower, diving into a river, cutting up cars and finding their way through a smoke-filled room.

Salamander has been running twice a year for several years as part of the Wiltshire Youth Inclusion Programme (YIP). It has been such a success that Trowbridge firefighters and instructors have also introduced a two-night survival skills course for the young people.

People aged 13 to 17 who need extra support are offered alternative activities as part of the YIP, to help build up their skills, confidence and teamwork.

Jodie, 13, said she would recommend Salamander to anyone: "The firefighters treat us like proper adults, but they are also strict because of the need for safety. I've done things I thought I would not be able to do and I get more benefit from it. I don't get stressed out."

Troy, 14, said he enjoyed it a lot: "I don't like heights but after the abseiling I felt good about myself. I think this will make me try more new things in the future."

Paul West, Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service's director of the Salamander course, said the crew could all see a difference in the young people at the end of a hard week's work: "They work as a team and have to follow the same rules as we do. It gives them a different focus on life and makes them realise they can achieve things if they really put their mind to it.

"It's a credit to them that they face the challenges, overcome their fears and work hard."

Wiltshire YIP worker Veronica Butcher said the course had proved its worth with the young people: "Working with the fire fighters on these challenging tasks makes the young people feel that they have achieved something positive and makes them feel good about themselves.

"They benefit from having strict boundaries and come into an operational working environment where everyone has to adhere to the rules and where teamwork is strongly emphasised.

"They sometimes find it hard at first but they tend to stick it out. Parents often say it makes a difference to the young people's behaviour and attitudes, even after just a week. They get to know the instructors quite well and a bond develops between them."