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