Pathways into Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

As the weeks have gone by you have met a number of our new apprentices here at Greater Manchester Fire and rescue service and it is a pleasure to be working alongside them. The pathways in to the fire service are something very close to each of us. To us it means the things we’ve done to get to where we are today.

Out of the twelve apprentices currently working in Community Fire Safety and Business Fire safety two, including myself have come from our cadet units, two have come from our volunteers program and eight from the Prince’s Trust team programmes.

Princes Trust 12 Week Development Programme

Princes Trust is a twelve week program for people aged 16 to 25 that are unemployed. It consists of careers advice, work placements, a week of team building activities and a series of community based projects. The program gives the individuals the opportunity to build confidence and make a positive turn in their lives. It also gives them the ability to develop their skills and their CV to seek employment. Throughout the twelve weeks, each member of the team works towards a number of recognised qualifications and personal goals.

For further details or if you want to get involved go to;

http://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/community_work/princes_trust.aspx

Volunteering

The Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service volunteer scheme invites people from 16 and above to ‘give us a hand in the community’. With a variety of different events to be part of, such as the Manchester Day Parade or even becoming a cadet instructor, there’s always something to do.
If you would like to know more about volunteering with Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service go to; http://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/working_for_us/become_a_volunteer.aspx

Fire Cadets

Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service’s Community Fire Cadet Scheme started around 19 years ago and since then has had hundreds of young people pass through the scheme. Over the two year course the cadets complete a nationally recognised BTEC Award in Fire and Rescue Services in the Community and have the opportunity to compete in hose running drills at national and international camp. Once they have completed the two year course they can become junior cadet instructors and then have the chance to gain employment with Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service.
To find out more about cadets look at; http://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/community_work/fire_cadets.aspx

Traineeships

Traineeships are a new 12 week program that Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service along with other partners has put together. Although none of the apprentices have been on the brand new scheme, we can see the fantastic potential it has to get young people in Greater Manchester into work. The 12 week provides 6-8 weeks with an employer outside of GMFRS, Level 2 qualifications in Maths and/or English and employability skills. If you would like to know more about this fantastic opportunity’s with a traineeship go tohttp://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/community_work/traineeships.aspx

Lewis’s Story

Written by Lewis Welsby, Business Safety Advisor Apprentice

Before starting as an Apprentice Business Safety Advisor at Stretford Fire Station, I was a volunteer in Salford and Trafford. I first became involved with GMFRS when a family friend who is a retired fire fighter told me about the apprenticeship scheme. When I looked further into this, I came across the volunteering opportunities and took this up whilst looking for further prospects within the brigade.

The biggest highlight for me as an apprentice so far has been being able to take on my own projects and go out working alone. This has showed me that I am trusted by my managers and colleagues to go and work by myself in the public eye, which has given me a massive confidence boost.

So far, the biggest benefit of working with Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service is being able to meet and work with other people who have similar interests as me. When volunteering, everyone had a keen interest in the fire service, and as an apprentice I’ve had the opportunity to meet people within the service who are rich in knowledge and experience and have shared their stories with me.

Having had a big interest in the fire service since I was a young child, I’m very excited and proud to be working for GMFRS. I’d love to be able to continue this experience at the end of the apprenticeship within the Fire Safety department. Having met and worked with other colleagues in the service, I would now work in any department whether it is in a uniformed or non-uniformed role if given the opportunity.

Educating the Community at Sure Start

Written by Community Safety Advisor Apprentice Mike Dunn

Sam Blackburn and I have been getting out into the community across Manchester recently on a variety of different occasions. We both recently attended a Sure Start children’s centre in Rusholme to talk the new parents group during their introduction to the centre session.

The aim of the session was to give out home safety advice to the parents who were all scattered around a play room. We did this by talking to them and giving out information booklets on fire safety in the home, with the key message aimed at kitchen safety.

Every conversation started by introducing ourselves and asking if they had smoke alarms at home. If they didn’t, we advised they have a home safety check by signing a request form. We were also able to give out stickers and fluffy fire service bobble heads to keep the children happy and amused.

By the end of the session we had managed to collect a total of 22 Home safety check requests out of around thirty adults, which we felt was a really good success as there were clearly many parents without smoke alarms to protect them and their children. We completed several of them ourselves and sent the rest to our contact centre to have the visits arranged for convenient times.

Dom's Story

Written by Apprentice Business Safety Advisor Laura Broughton

Dom Traynor, our Business Safety Advisor for Bury, Oldham and Rochdale first had contact with Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service when he was just 9 years old. Dom had won a competition for ‘Spot the Kitchen Fire Hazards’ with Ashton Fire Station and he won a DVD player!

10 years on, Dom became a volunteer for GMFRS where he assisted members of staff with a range of events and activities. He gained valuable knowledge of the uniformed services in the public sector and went on to apply for an apprenticeship.

Dom has studied A Levels in Business, Administration and Finance, Graphic Design, Law and Geography and was offered a place at the University of Leeds to study International Relations and Global Development. He declined this opportunity to seek employment within Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service.

This is the apprentices fourth month working on station. Dom’s highlights have been working with other members of GMFRS to see how different departments work. He has enjoyed working with operational fire fighters to get an insight to what they do on a day to day basis.

‘The past four months have opened my eyes to the organisation from the inside’

Dom would like to stay on with GMFRS in the future within Fire Protection. However he has future aspirations to become a Fire Fighter or a Police Officer within Greater Manchester.

Princes Trust Evening

Written by Laura Broughton, Business Safety Advisor Apprentice

Apprentices have been working with the Princes Trust teams over the past few months. At the end of each twelve week course there is a presentation evening to highlight the young people’s achievements and show family members and friends how far they have come. It is a brilliant evening and allows everyone to hear the people’s personal stories and also allow them to understand the impact that the Prince’s Trust has had on each individual.

Lee Waddicor, Sophie Williams and I attended the presentation evening at the JJ Bell Stadium along with ex apprentices from Eccles and Manchester.

Sophie Williams an ex Princes Trust team member has supported and worked with the team throughout the twelve week course. It was great to see what an impact she had on the individuals, as she was mentioned in several of their speeches.

Lee Waddicor was involved in interviewing each potential member who applied to become part of the Princes Trust Team back in February. On the evening Lee delivered an inspirational speech about his journey, doing all fellow colleagues proud.

If you would like to find more information about the Princes Trust or would like to apply for a place on one of our life changing courses visit;

http://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/community_work/princes_trust.aspx