Community initiatives

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

Water safety campaign
Signs, posters and a radio advert have been produced as part of a campaign warning young people in Wigan about the dangers of swimming in open water and playing on ice during the winter months. Wigan Fire Officers have been working on the campaign in partnership with Wigan and Leigh Community Safety Partnership, Wigan Council and private land owners.  Find out more about the campaign.

Fire Stoppers
Fire Stoppers is a freephone line available to all Wigan residents so they can anonymously report any incidents of fire-related anti-social behaviour within the borough. This is a pilot scheme which may, at some time in the future, be rolled out across all of Greater Manchester. As part of the initiative, Wish FM have been playing adverts to highlight the very real and dramatic effects of deliberate fires, hoax calls to the fire service and attacks on firefighters have on Wigan. Download the ads now

Wigan Borough Firefighter Awareness Scheme
We continue to get referrals from Wigan Council Anti-Social Behaviour Unit onto the Wigan Borough FireFighter Awareness Scheme. Targeted at young people who may be at risk of committing crime or participating in anti-social behaviour, it offers them the opportunity to experience first hand the work of fire crews and it raises awareness of the role of firefighters. It also helps young people realise their responsibilities to the communities in which they live.

Youth Forums
We are trying to engage with young people in the area by hosting various youth forums at fire stations. Each forum gives up to 30 young people the opportunity to get a tour of their fire station, view a demonstration of firefighting equipment and training exercises. They also receive a short presentation and film on the devastating effects that fire can have on people – and how the small and nuisance fires can impact on everyone.

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

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 five.  Classes then provide teams who attend their local fire stations and take part in a knock-out fire safety quiz.  The winners go on to compete in further rounds, leading to a grand final.

Beat Sweeps
Working with the Police, Council and other local agencies, we carry our Beat Sweep initiatives in targeted areas to reduce environmental crime, house fires and anti-social behaviour and clean up areas of litter and abandoned vehicles. We participate by offering residents in the targeted areas fire safety advice and the opportunity to have a free smoke alarms fitted in their homes

Advanced Search