Firefighters Work With Caia Park Youngsters To Promote Fire Safety

Firefighters from Wrexham have been working with youngsters from Caia Park to create short films promoting fire safety and the negative effects of deliberate fire starting.

The Phoenix Course, which was launched earlier this year between the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and The Caia Park Partnership Youth Team, delivers youth provision on the Caia Park estate by Wrexham Youth Service. Wholetime watches from Wrexham fire station were allocated a youth club from the Caia Park estate and worked with the young people that engage in the services to create their own short films.

The firefighters worked with the Youth Team to undertake a number of visits to the youth clubs, creating relationships and working with them on the end goal of producing a short video clip communicating important messages through a medium of their own choice.

Youngsters from Pentre Gwyn, Venture and Kingsley Circle youth clubs visited Wrexham Fire Station to view their work on a big screen last week. The film produced by Pentre Gwyn youth club came out top following viewing by a judging panel, and was awarded with vouchers by Wrexham County Council for Waterworld, Wrexham. All three groups were thanked for their hard work and presented with a small prize.

The winning film can be viewed at www.facebook/Northwalesfire service or at www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk or on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRBmrNuzi_s

Gary Brandrick, Senior Fire Safety Manager for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This project has been a great way for us to engage with the youngsters from Caia Park and create good relationships. It has helped the young people think more about the negative effects of fire starting and the importance of fire safety in the home, and we hope this will stay with them for years to come.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Caia Park Partnership for working with us in this innovative way.”

Jonathan Stumpp from the Caia Park Partnership Youth Team added: “The project has been a great way of building relationships and developing mutual respect with local firefighters and has given the young people a real insight into the work they do and the potential consequences of fires and deliberate fire setting.

“We’re thrilled to be working with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and we’re looking forward to building on this relationship in the future by working with them and the Arson Reduction Team.”