The Fire Cadet Ambassador scheme has been designed for cadets who have reached the Watch Manager ranking, allowing them to continue their development with the fire service and upon completion, achieve a Fire Cadet Ambassador Award.
On Monday night (23rd March), a ceremony was held at the HIWFRS headquarters in Eastleigh, welcoming the first group of ambassadors and introducing them to the new initiative.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Rob Cole and Lord Lieutenant Nigel Atkinson were there to present the new ambassadors with their new epaulettes in front of their families.
Interested cadets who meet the criteria to enrol on the programme are asked to submit an initial expression of interest.
Delivered in modules through a mix of sessions online and in-person at local fire stations, the participants of the programme can stay on for up to two years, or until they turn 20.
The ambassador scheme will continue the work that the fire cadet programme began, by building confidence in young people, teaching them teamwork, problem-solving, self-discipline, social action and mentoring skills.
Fire Cadet Delivery Manager, Clair Hayward said:
“We are delighted to launch our new ambassador programme which allows us to continue working with some of our outstanding cadets.
“Due to the success of our Fire Cadet Units, we were inspired to develop an extension of the programme, and it is something we are very proud of and cannot wait to deliver.
“A big part of the scheme will be building upon what our ambassadors were taught during their time in our cadet units, increasing their confidence, teaching them leadership skills and preparing them for their next steps in life.”
Fire Cadets is a training programme run by the fire service to give youngsters between the ages of 13 and 17 the opportunity to gain essential social, life, work and wellbeing skills, and develop their confidence and personal skills.
If you know any 13–17-year-olds who might be interested in joining us you can find out more here.
