FLARE course gains national recognition
Warwickshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service has received national recognition for its Youth Development programme, FLARE.
The 16-day interactive course – run over 8 weeks, countywide – invites 14 to 17-year-old students in need of a work based training programme to take part in a number of team-building activities based upon fire service training principles, including hose and hydrant drills, breathing apparatus and search and rescue training, fire safety awareness / extinguisher training, First Aid certification and driver training.
At the end of the course, the young people take part in a uniformed passing-out parade, where they receive a framed certificate from Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service along with a testimonial, a nationally recognised ASDAN qualification and a Wider Key Skill qualification in Working With Others.
The Youth Development team from Warwickshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, who developed FLARE, received an award at this year’s National Career’s Awards ceremony hosted by the Institute of Career’s Guidance at their annual conference in Blackpool.
The Youth Development Department were highly commended for their work with young people in 14 to 19 Learning.
Moreno Francioso, Youth Development Manager for the Warwickshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “FLARE is a fun and interactive training course offering young people a chance to develop skills that they can use in education, employment and training or in life generally.
“We’re really proud of this project and the work we do with so many young people, so are very humbled by the national recognition that the Institute of Career Guidance have given us.”
Cllr Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, added: “The FLARE project has been a great success and I would like to offer my congratulations to the team and all who take part.”
To find out more information about FLARE including how to take part, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue.