Community work

Children and young people

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service runs a variety of programmes to educate and inform children and young people about the dangers of fire, fire-related crime and its consequences.

A significant number of young people experience a wide range of problems, including unemployment following education, mental ill health, and being a victim of crime. Whilst these problems affect young people throughout the country, disadvantage is frequently concentrated in the most deprived neighbourhoods. There can also be a sense of disengagement, often resulting in anti-social behaviour, youth crime, drug offending and school exclusions.

Why are we working with young people?
Our vision is to prevent children and young people becoming involved in fire crime and anti-social behaviour and to prevent them becoming harmed or killed in accidental fires or causing fires through ignorance or carelessness. We also hope that by working with young people, we will not only help to tackle the wider issues of crime and anti-social behaviour but we will also improve their school attendance and employment chances.

What are the aims of our youth programmes?

To engage actively with children and young people.
To prevent and reduce fire crime and firesetting.
To divert children and young people from fire crime and anti-social behaviour.
To educate children and young people in fire safety skills and citizenship.
To ensure we are effective and professional.
To share good practice within Greater Manchester Fire Service and externally to partner agencies.

For more information on the strategic aims of our schemes, download Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s Children and Young People Strategy (PDF).

What schemes do we run?

Life skills - for school groups aged 10 – 16
Firefly - for referred individuals aged 11 – 17
Community Fire Cadets - for referred individuals aged 13 – 16
FIRETEAM - for school groups aged 14 – 16
Prince’s Trust - for referred individuals aged 16 – 25

Individuals are referred by a range of different organisations such as Connexions, Youth Offending Teams and the Probation Service.