The LIFE project (Local Intervention Fire Education)

Arson is the largest single cause of fire in the UK and one of the Corporate Aims for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) to Make Hampshire Safer is to reduce the number of fires started deliberately by 20% in 2010.

Working in partnership with the police, local authorities and other agencies, HFRS is involved in schemes that focus on diverting young people from fire setting and anti-social behaviour.

As part of our Youth Engagement programmes, the LIFE project aims to reduce deliberate fire setting by encouraging teenagers to develop responsible attitudes to fire, and to take fire safety messages back to their homes and to their friends.

An exciting opportunity

It’s also an exciting opportunity for them to respond to an environment of discipline and teamwork, where they rely on mutual co-operation to succeed, and to learn about the Fire and Rescue Service.

This scheme has been active in Hampshire since January 2005. Many more courses are planned for the forthcoming year throughout the county of Hampshire.

Through the LIFE Project, HFRS deliver a five day course for young people aged between 13 and 18.

All of the young people who attend the course have been referred to us due to them either being involved in or thought to be on the brink of firesetting, crime or anti social behaviour.

The courses are run at fire stations around the county by firefighters who are fully trained in delivering these specific courses. These firefighters will be able to impart their knowledge and skills to the students and be a positive role model for them.

The course content includes many fire service activities including, hose running, ladder climbing, wearing breathing apparatus and basic first aid.

The course is designed to change the attitude and behaviour of the young people by getting them to:

adopt a new set of values
address the consequences of antisocial and firesetting behaviour
work co-operatively with others
see the advantage of improving their own learning and performance
gain self-esteem and self confidence
communicate better

At the end of each course, the students invite their families/carers into the fire station to watch them perform in their very own pass out parade. This involves the students demonstrating the skills that they have learnt during the week which is an impressive sight not to be missed.

After this demonstration, the students are presented with a portfolio which contains certificates and photographs of their achievements from the course.

Each student that completes the course will also take away valuable memories of their achievements from the course. They are able to improve on their citizenship skills and gain a sense of self worth.

To local communities

The benefit to the local community has been seen from the courses that we have already run. We have seen a reduction in deliberate firesetting and anti social behaviour in these areas.

The LIFE project is a very good example of partnership working as HFRS work alongside several youth agencies as well as Hampshire Constabulary.

To the young people

Many of the students who complete a LIFE course are keen to do it all again, but unfortunately for them this is a once in a lifetime experience. Some of the comments that they have made include:

“Excellent. I have learnt how to work in a team”

“I made new friends and learnt about teamwork and leadership”

“A lifetime experience”

“A great chance to learn new skills”

LIFE Courses in 2010/11

The following LIFE courses are being run during 2010/11. On the last day of every course a pass out parade is held to which members of the public and press are welcome to attend. Guests are asked to assemble at midday for a 12.30 pm start.


Course no	Location of course and induction	Group or Borough	Course Dates	Induction Evening	Closing date for referrals
61	Southsea Fire Station, Portsmouth	Portsmouth	26 – 30 April	Monday 19 April 6.30 pm	1/04/10
62	Redbridge Fire Station, Southampton	Southampton	10 – 14 May	Tuesday 27 April 6.30 pm	19/04/10
63	Waterlooville Fire Station	Havant	21 – 25 June	Tuesday 8 June 6.30 pm	24/05/10
64	Eastleigh Fire Station	Eastleigh and Test Valley	5 – 9 July	Tuesday 22 June 6.30 pm	14/06/10
65	Rushmoor Fire Station	Rushmoor and Hart	4 – 8 October	Tuesday 21 September 6.30 pm	13/09/10
66	Tadley Fire Station	Basingstoke and Deane	18 - 22 October	Tuesday 5 October 6.30 pm	27/09/10
67	Hightown Fire Station, Southampton	Southampton	15 – 19 November	Tuesday 2 November 6.30 pm	22/10/10
68	Hardley Fire Station	New Forest	29 November – 3 December	Tuesday 16 November 6.30 pm	08/11/10
69	Basingstoke Fire Station	Basingstoke and Deane	31 January – 4 February 2011	Tuesday 18 January 2011 6.30pm	10/01/11
70	Gosport Fire Station	Fareham and Gosport	14 – 18 February	Tuesday 1 February 6.30 pm	24/01/11
71	Southsea Fire Station, Portsmouth	Portsmouth	7 – 11 March	Tuesday 15 February 6.30 pm	07/02/11
72	Rushmoor Fire Station, Farnborough	Rushmoor and Hart	21 – 25 March	Tuesday 8 March 6.30 pm	28/02/11

Referrals are invited for young people aged 13 - 18 with whom you are currently working. We accept referrals from all of our partner agencies and any professional organisation who works with young people on a daily basis, including schools.

If you are working with a young person who you think would benefit from the LIFE project please follow these steps:

Identify a suitable course date and location from the 'course dates' tab.
Download our Children and Young People (CYP) Activities Referral Form, FM/6/53/1. Complete Sections A and B as fully as possible.
FM/6/53/1 Children and Young People (CYP) Activites Referral Form 122Kb.
Email the completed word document to life@hantsfire.gov.uk including the details of which course date and location you feel would be most suitable for the young person.

Suitable young people will then be invited to attend an induction evening the date of which is stated on the course dates tab. After this induction evening you will be informed if the young person has been accepted onto the course.