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Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service chooses College students as first volunteers

10th December 2009 - (Click photos to enlarge)

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service has welcomed Uniformed Public Services students from Chesterfield College as the first to join its pilot volunteer scheme. Following this pilot, it’s hoped that the scheme can be rolled out from North Derbyshire across the entire county.

The Chesterfield College Public Services students faced a thorough interview by Derbyshire Fire & Rescue officers to gauge their interest in becoming a volunteer and following this, received an intensive days training at the brand new Chesterfield Community Fire Station.

Steve Helps, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Group Manager, whose team has helped to implement the project, says, “We’ve introduced volunteers to the service for a variety of reasons but perhaps the most important is to help us better engage with our community to deliver potentially lifesaving messages to even more people. Our ultimate aim is to make Derbyshire safer but of course there are other benefits. For example, the volunteers will help us carry out Home Fire Safety Checks, provide advice at community events, help deliver education in schools and facilitate road traffic collision demonstrations.” For example, volunteers will help to deliver the message of how dangerous chip pan fires are and how easily one can start, as demonstrated by this video.

Whilst making the community safer by helping others, the volunteers will gain key skills, enhance their CVs. Many have already signed up to ‘vinspired awards’, a national charity which recognises and rewards the positive impact of volunteering.

Some volunteers have other, more personal motivations, for joining however. Volunteer Jason Hill, a first year Public Services student at Chesterfield College, explains, “In 2003 I lost my uncle, his partner and my two cousins to a horrific house fire in Shirebrook. They had smoke alarms but they weren’t up yet. I’m volunteering because I don’t want anyone else to die needlessly like they did and also anyone to suffer the way me and my mum have.”

Victoria Sparkes, Community Safety Officer explains, “Our first intake of volunteers has come from the Uniformed Public Service Course at Chesterfield College who we have already worked with on other projects. However, we are keen to encourage applications from all parts of our community in North Derbyshire so whatever the reason, whatever your background, please call us and ask for some information.”

If you want to volunteer for Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service you can find out more information about the roles available and how to apply by visiting www.derbys-fire.gov.uk or calling 01246 223500. The next deadline for applications is Friday 29 January 2010, interviews will be during the week beginning 8 February 2010.