On Wednesday 21st February 2007 the Sheldon’s branch of the YFA reopened its doors to the young people of Sheldon station area. The young people where recruited from a local secondary school, and were aged between 13-14 years with different abilities and back grounds. The group meet on Wednesday evenings, where they were introduced to a range of Fire Service equipment such as ladders, hose and a light portable pump. During the Wednesday evenings we also covered fire safety and fire prevention. The aim of the training programme was to encourage team work and the reasons for why we need clear and structured communications.

During the twelve weeks the young people completed a workbook that is accredited by the Open College Network and were given the opportunity to visit Fire Control as well as taking part in a search and rescue scenario at Handsworth Fire House, where they were able to exercise their team work and communication skills. The attendance of the young people during the training programme was extremely good.  

We had several visitors during our training programme one been from David Hackney Head of Youth Services and another from Councillor Jackson of the Yardley District, on both occasions the YFA at Sheldon was well received and the feed back was encouraging. Councillor Jackson was especially pleased with the way we were organizing and implementing the training programmes and looked forward to visiting us again during the year.

Towards the end of the training programme all the young people expressed an interest in staying on as full time YFA members, however we explained that we had many young people within our station area desperate to take part in the YFA and experience life in the fire service and that it was only fair for us to offer this experience to as many young people as possible.

Since taking on the YFA at Sheldon Community Fire Station we have designed and organized the twelve week training which would allow as many young people to participate and experience life as a young firefighter, this has entailed writing and meeting with all sorts of local agencies, schools and people of different back grounds and abilities. We have enjoyed this new and challenging experience and look forward to the next training programme.  

 Course 2/2007

Charity Car Wash 26th May 2007 in aid of the FSNBF and Marie Curie Cancer Care

Click here to look at some pictures of our visits.

Course 1/2007 photo, click here

Sheldon YFA Branch

Sheldon Fire Station

Garretts Green Lane

Birmingham

B33 OSE