Beacon Project

The Beacon Project is a six week or 12 week (one day a week) programme designed to engage with primary and secondary young people aged 8-18 who meet any of the following criteria:


Referral Criteria

  • In their transition to secondary school
  • Experienced ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experience)
  • Poor attendance
  • Displaying symptoms of someone exposed to trauma
  • Involved in risk-taking behaviour, fire setting or becoming involved in ASB (anti-social behaviour)
  • Young people socially excluded in less obvious ways are also eligible - young carers, young people with disabilities, looked after children, young people from minority ethnic backgrounds

Course Activities

  • Practical Fire Service Activities (Hose Drills/Youth Breathing Apparatus/Hydrant Drills/Foam Making Equipment/Search & Rescue Techniques)
  • Team-building, Energiser & Communication Tasks
  • Community Safety Awareness (Safety in the Home/Fire Escape Plans/Arson/Bonfire & Fireworks Safety/ASB)
  • First Aid, Health Awareness
  • Child Exploitation/Healthy Relationships
  • Road Safety/Water Safety
  • End of course “Pass Out” & certificate presentation (funders/family/school representative invited to attend)

Aim

  • Provide safe, fun, enriching and unique experiences
  • Giving students the opportunity to take part in an educational learning experience outside of the school or peer group environment
  • We have created a therapeutic environment, with trauma-informed practices to promote engagement
  • The course is delivered with the aim of encouraging self-development of the students by instilling fundamental Fire Service principles of self-discipline, leadership and teamwork
  • To develop healthy relationships and growth mindset
  • Improve personal, social and educational development
  • To focus on prevention and early intervention

Objective

  • To reduce the number of pupils being excluded from mainstream education, by proactive intervention and to contribute to improving school attendance
  • Positive engagement with a uniformed service
  • Engage and educate young people to create fire safe citizens with improved social and morally responsible behaviour
  • Gain certification

Course Details

  • The course can be facilitated at a number of fire stations, subject to availability and suitability
  • The course starts at 10am and concludes at 2.30pm. Transport will be provided to pick up/drop off students from school. A packed lunch will be provided
  • There is a maximum of 12 students per course, with a ratio of 2 instructors

Contact Details

Youth Engagement Team
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service 
Service Headquarters 
Bootle 
Liverpool 
L30 4YD

Email: youthengagementteam@merseyfire.gov.uk