FLARE students ‘pass out’ in the heat
Students of Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Flare programme had their passing out parade last week with 12 students receiving their awards from Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Simon Frost in front of Fire and Rescue personnel, parents, teachers and many of their peers.
This FLARE programme, the tenth to be hosted by WF&RS, was targeted at students with special educational needs, aged between 14 and 19 years old. The 16-day course, run over eight weeks, tested the participants’ commitment and their skills in a range of team activities including; orienteering, abseiling, fire safety drills, driver training, team building and first aid.
FLARE is a successful youth education programme run by fire-fighters from Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Youth Development Department in partnership with Connexions. The course is designed specifically for young people who will benefit from a learning experience in a work-based environment outside of school.
The objective of Flare is to instil in the young people some fundamental fire service principles and skills; leadership, teamwork and communication with the ultimate aim of raising self-confidence and improving self-discipline and thereby reducing the likelihood that students will become NEET- not in education, training or employment – post statutory schooling.
‘Flare 10’ consisted of 12 pupils from 3 special schools with both physical and specific learning difficulties ranging from degenerative muscle conditions to Asperger’s Syndrome.
Warwickshire County Council’s portfolio holder for Community Protection, Cllr Richard Hobbs, an advocate of the course, said: “FLARE builds communication skills, increases confidence, maintains self-discipline and helps young people become real team players. These vulnerable young people can apply these skills, which are so fundamental to fire-fighting, to their everyday lives and gain real benefit.”
One ‘FLARE 10’ student was 14 year old Jade Clark.
Jade, a student at Woodlands School, suffered from a low level of confidence and poor organisational skills. With learning difficulties in maths, reading and writing, Jade could find school very difficult – confronting continual educational failure is the ultimate de-motivator.
FLARE embarked Jade on a programme that would challenge her fears through activities such as search & rescue and breathing apparatus training thereby increasing her self-esteem and confidence and ultimately her motivation.
The difference in her life has been pronounced. Where once Jade was frightened to go out, she now has more confidence to socialise, has made friends on the course and can recognise situations where bullying might occur and can be averted.
The discipline of having to march and keep a uniform tidy has also helped Jade to improve her organisational skills. She has been a model pupil as course instructor Fire Fighter Moreno Francioso says:
“With some young people the attitude is, “I can’t”. Jade’s attitude, along with her fellow students has increasingly become one of “I will”. She has mellowed, learnt to get along well with her peers and with older figures of authority and has taken all the benefits that FLARE offers.”
Jade herself agrees, saying: “I am more confident now and will ask for help and share a problem if I have one, maybe with some of the friends I have made. But the best thing is that I have got more confidence and am friendlier. It will help me get on in and out of school.”
Ends. Media contact: Richard Harkin, 01926 414162