Junior Fire Safety Scheme receives a welcome financial boost!
A scheme which encourages young people to look after older neighbours or relatives has been awarded a grant of £2,500 from the Electrical Safety Council (ESC).
Established by Warwickshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, the Junior Fire Safety Citizen Scheme helps young people aged between 10 and 11 (year 6), to talk to older relatives or friends to see if they could benefit from having a free home fire safety check.
The main aim of the scheme is to allow young people to think about potential fire dangers and help to reduce the risk of fire to vulnerable members of the community.
Pupils taking part are asked to do an initial assessment by following a question and answer sheet, checking key elements, such as whether there is a working smoke alarm fitted in the home. In addition to covering fire safety issues, the scheme also incorporates electrical safety issues - such as overloaded plug sockets and switching off electrical items when not in use.
Schools Liaison Officer, Ruth Greenhalgh said: “We are really excited about the future of this scheme. The funding received from the Electrical Safety Council will ensure that young people from across Warwickshire can continue to be involved in fire prevention in an independent way.
"In the last year, more than 80 Warwickshire Primary Schools have taken part in the scheme and we have received 15 referrals from older people who all received a free HFSC.
“By becoming a Junior Fire Safety Citizen, young people are helping to keep our older friends safe and may even save someone’s life!”
“We thought this was a great project to bring together both the young and old in a community to help each other”, explains Lorraine Carney, Campaign Manager for the ESC.
“To give young people, such as these ones in Warwickshire, the tools and guidance they need to understand electricity and help in this way. We recently launched a UK wide website (http://www.twothirtyvolts.org,uk) specifically aimed at teens and their teachers. We also have an established site (http://www.switchedonkids.org.uk) for younger children and their primary school level teachers. However, this sort of project really helps make children directly aware of electrical safety hazards. And it allows them to help older members of their families and community, who may be vulnerable to electrical dangers around the home, too.”
Cllr Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection, said: “Receiving funding from the Electrical Safety Council shows the work we are doing with young people is valued within our communities. The scheme provides them with a great opportunity to learn more about fire safety in a fun and interactive way and helps the fire service to reach more vulnerable members of the community.”