On Thursday, 7 July 2022, Fire Cadets from across Berkshire showed off their new skills at a Graduation Ceremony at Whitley Wood Fire Station.
Fire Cadets is a programme run by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS), which runs at four fire stations across the County – Crowthorne, Maidenhead, Newbury, and Whitley Wood. It is an initiative that encourages young people between the ages of 12-16 to experience what being a firefighter involves. The course is an opportunity for young people to develop new life skills by taking part in fire and rescue service activities. Each programme is run for a full academic year during term time only.
During the Graduation Ceremony, each unit showcased the skills they had learnt by performing their own graduation drills, which involved scenarios such as water safety rescues and staged domestic fires.
Wayne Bowcock, Chief Fire Officer, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to attend the Fire Cadets Graduation to celebrate and recognise the hard work of the Fire Cadets and the teams who make it a success every year. Congratulations to every Fire Cadet for completing the course and the four Cadet of the Year award winners – Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, your families and loved ones are all extremely proud of you.”
The Vice-Chair of Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey, who attended the event, said: “The Fire Cadets initiative not only delivers on Royal Berkshire Fire Authority’s commitment to contributing to a broader safety, health, and wellbeing agenda, but it also equips young people with valuable interpersonal skills to increase their self-confidence. This year’s Fire Cadets have demonstrated their work ethic and dedication and should be proud of their achievements. Congratulations to all.”
The Fire Cadets programme is also an opportunity for young people to learn skills such as self-reliance, leadership, and decision-making, alongside learning about fire safety and firefighter activities.
For more information about Fire Cadets, please visit the RBFRS website.