Community initiatives

These are just some of the community initiatives that we are involved in…

Partner base
We are bidding to provide a partner base at Withington Fire Station for Street Environmental Managers and Police Community Support Officers. The aim is to utilise these partners as the eyes and ears of operational fire crews in reducing calls, generating home fire risk assessments and proving better links with the community.

Community credit cards
A large number of community credit cards are also being produced for distribution amongst our partners.

Reaching out into the community
The borough aims to reach out to different sections of the community and promote the fire safety message through various methods. We work with the Church, local youth groups and targeted media such as Peace FM and Black Music Development to reach different groups within the community.

Firefly
South Manchester ran its first Firefly course at Wythenshawe in June 2006. Firefly gives young people who may be having difficulties with education or at home or have been involved in anti-social behaviour the opportunity to spend the week with the Fire Service. They learn basic fire fighting skills, understand what the role of a firefighter is, take part in numerous team building exercises and learn about the consequences of car crime and arson.

Beat Sweep
Beat Sweep is an initiative that involves the Fire Service, Police, different local authority departments and other partners working together to help rid a community of problems such as litter, abandoned vehicles, drugs and anti-social behaviour. We participate by offering local resident free home fire risk assessments.

Postal delivery of fire safety messages
Manchester North and Manchester South have joined forces with the Royal Mail Group PLC to get fire safety messages delivered to Manchester residents. The Memorandum of Understanding is to build up a framework of co-operation between Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and Royal Mail to develop mutually beneficial programmes and projects which will enhance community cohesion and safety within the Borough. 

Education Programme
Community fire safety officers are involved in delivering fire safety education to all key stage groups in schools across Manchester.  All fire stations have a comprehensive programme of primary school visits.  During their primary school years children receive fire safety education during years 2 and 5.The adult population are engaged through specific talks to local community groups, at local events and by campaigns involving radio, posters and leaflets.

Crucial Crew
Community fire safety staff are also involved in the running of the Crucial Crew scheme, a multi-agency approach to safety in the home for children in Key Stage 2.  The event is held once each year and is organised and run in conjunction with the Police, Ambulance Service and other local organisations that provide a wide range of safety information.

Learn Not to Burn
Operational crews are involved in The Learn Not to Burn Quiz, visiting local primary schools and teaching fire safety to children in year 5.  The classes provide teams who attend their local fire stations and take part in a knock out fire safety quiz with the winners going on through various rounds to a grand final.

Unwanted Calls Reduction Initiatives
In partnership with owners and operators of fire alarm systems, work has been carried out across Manchester to reduce unnecessary calls.  This initiative has shown considerable success against a national trend for these types of calls to increase.

Neighbourhood Wardens
Many of these schemes now exist across Manchester and fire stations are forming links with them.  The benefits are numerous, with the wardens providing a local link to some communities who in the past have been very difficult to engage with.

Bonfire & Firework Nuisance
A multi-agency group has been formed to co-ordinate work aimed at reducing nuisance caused by fireworks and bonfires. This group was cited as an example of ‘Best Practice’ by the Home Office.

Joint Health Unit
This is initially a three year project aimed at reducing accident rates amongst children.  Health Action Zone and New Opportunities Funding have provided a budget of £200,000.  Half of the first year’s budget is to implement an education programme throughout key stages 1-4.  The remainder is to be used to employ an educational co-ordinator and provide home safety equipment including 10 year smoke detectors and fire guards.

Care in the Community
This is a joint initiative with Manchester Social Services to equip carers with the basic skills necessary to carry out fire risk assessments in the homes of elderly people.  The initiative started in Wythenshawe and has now moved on to Moss Side. 

Heartstart
We are delivering training to all our non-uniformed staff within the borough so they too have the vital skills that one day might save a life.

 

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