Twelve dedicated young people from Midhurst Rother College are celebrating after successfully graduating from the FireBreak course at Midhurst Fire Station on Friday 17 October.
 
Following an intensive and challenging week long course the students performed hose and ladder drills and proudly demonstrated the new skills they had learned in front of an invited audience of their proud family and friends.
 
FireBreak is an innovative youth programme run by West Sussex firefighters in partnership with County Council colleagues from Youth Services, is aimed at young people between 12 and 14 and actively encourages students to become positive role models among their peers and within their communities.
 
Students attend the station over five consecutive days, working alongside firefighters on a disciplined and structured programme of events that combine classroom-based activities and practical training including fire service drills designed to promote teamwork, social awareness and self-discipline and to help reduce negative influences.
 
Youth Team instructor Simon Woodland, who worked with the students all week, said- "These twelve young people have responded brilliantly to the course this week. FireBreak isn't about teaching young people how to squirt a hose or climb a ladder; it's about motivating them to focus and concentrate, galvanising them as a team and encouraging them to work really hard for each other. These are the skills that firefighters use on a daily basis."
 
Certificates were presented on the day by Assistant Chief Fire Officer for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, Gavin Watts, who added- "We believe that the fire service has an important role to play in helping to tackle some of the wider social issues facing young people in West Sussex today. Our team of trained and skilled instructors are committed to bringing out the very best in the young people they work with, helping them develop important life skills and achieve their full potential."