Community initiatives
Tameside BeatsweepThese are just some of the community initiatives that we are involved in…
Derelict building policy
This policy ensures that dangerous or dilapidated buildings are quickly identified and secured by owners and/or partner agencies.
Operation Padlock
This Police-led, joint agency initiative aims to prevent crime and ensure the community is safe from accidental and deliberate fires. We are involved by giving out advice and information, carrying out home fire risk assessments and visiting commercial properties to ensure they meet fire regulations.
Community improvement actions – refuse fires
This is a joint operation between Police Community Support Officers and other partners to address the number of refuse fires.
Beat Sweeps
A beat sweep is a joint initiative with other agencies such as the local Council, and Police to clean up a specific area chosen and make the community safer. We take part in beat sweeps by carrying out home fire risk assessments. We have carried out a beat sweep in Newton and plan to target other areas in the future.
Alcohol campaign
As part of National Alcohol Awareness Week in May, we produced roadside banners placed around the borough giving fire safety messages linked to drinking alcohol. In addition to this, we also worked with a number of partner agencies such as Police, the Council and local Primary Care Trust to produce alcohol-related packs which were given out in the town centre in the evenings. They contained taxi cards so people could get home safely, pink personal alarms, anti-spike straws and mints with a fire and alcohol safety message.
Nite-net radio scheme
This night time radio scheme is used by all of our partner agencies (Police, Community Safety Unit, Town Centre Manager etc) and provides a direct link to the Tameside CCTV control room.
Arson Vulnerability Assessments
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is striving to achieve zero school fires, due to the devastating impact a school fire can have upon a community. To help us combat this, we undertake Arson Vulnerability Assessments on schools and colleges in Tameside to ensure they are as safe as possible.
Nature Trail
We are currently in the process of building a new fire station in Ashton-Under-Lyne. We will create a nature trail at the site for the use of schools and other community groups within Tameside.
Education programme
Community fire safety officers are involved in delivering fire safety education to all key stage groups in schools across Tameside. 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.