Meet Natalie

Role:   Early Intervention & FireWise Practitioner

What is your role? 

Working with children and young people to help educate them about making safer choices. To bring the fire service and the young people of Hampshire and Isle of Wight together along with other agencies, to help empower, educate and inform young people in a holistic, fun and beneficial way.

What inspires you to work with young people? 

I have always wanted to empower and inspire young people to realise their potential and support them to achieve their own goals. Young people are generally misunderstood or labelled in a way that can disempower them, I hope to help and support them to realise their potential.

What difference do you see from the programme? 

The programme gives young people an insight into the fire service, gives them role models and a sense of belonging to a community which they might not have access to otherwise. It also gives them chance to learn how to set goals and achieve them.

The best advice anyone ever gave you was… it’s not about the fall, but how you pick yourself back up / practice makes progress!

Meet Sophie

Role: Early Intervention & FireWise Practitioner

What is your role? 

To work with children and young people to support them to develop their personal resilience and social skills, as well as equipping them with the knowledge to make safer choices in the community. This is done through lots of games, activities and practical learning!

What inspires you to work with young people? 

I have always wanted to work with children & young people to help them to realise their worth and reach their full potential. I want to help children and young people to feel nurtured and cared for and support them to see just how amazing they are.

What difference do you see from the programme? 

The programmes give young people a safe space to be themselves, as well as an opportunity to build positive friendships. I see young people grow in confidence and self-belief through taking part in the programme. I also see young people realise their role in their local community and consider how they can make it safer for themselves and others.

The best advice anyone ever gave you was… It’s okay to make mistakes, keep trying!