Our Team
The Youth Interventions Team specialise in working with young people across West Yorkshire who may be identified as more likely to need or instigate any of the blue light services now or in their futures.
We deliver a highly engaging Youth Intervention Programmes which aim to make West Yorkshire safer both by challenging young people to change behaviours and providing essential safety experiences. Young people on our interventions, develop personal skills and qualities such as resilience and team work through a variety of activities and practical experiences.
Our interventions are developed and delivered by specialist Youth Intervention Trainers alongside our team of Youth Instructors who are all active Firefighters.
We work closely with partner agencies, organisations and schools to be the catalyst for change which many young people need to help them lead safer lives and engage and progress.
In 2016 the team received an Excellence in the Fire Service Award for an outstanding and innovative approach to partnership working.
These programmes develop character in young people by challenging their confidence, resilience, integrity and determination. They are practical and fast paced utilising firefighting skills to promote behaviour change to enable young people to face the challenges of life, society and future employment.
Shout
Giving young people something to SHOUT about, this programme is high impact with a focus on the development of practical firefighting skills to boost confidence and self-esteem. The course develops character as well as raising awareness of fire and road safety.
Primary age school children 8-11 years.
6 week course, 2 hours per week.
| Number of learners | Cost |
| 6-10 | £975 |
| Up to 15 | £1,248 |
Grit
Gaining resilience in teamwork, this programme encourages young people to work together to achieve. This high energy course uses practical firefighting activities to develop and stretch their ability to work together and overcome challenges. Determination and emotional resilience are explored, promoted and celebrated.
Secondary age pupils 11-16 years.
10 week course, 2½ hours per week.
| Number of learners | Cost |
| 6-10 | £1,820 |
| Up to 15 | £2,388 |
FireFit
This practical and active programme gets young people improving their lifestyle by focusing on physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Healthy living, eating and lifestyles are explored through a practical experience of using firefighter equipment in an innovative and inspiring way.
The programme is very successful at engaging young people who are considered most inactive.
Primary and secondary age school children 8-16 years.
6-8 weeks, 2/3 hours per week.
| Number of learners | Cost |
| 6-10 |
£975/£1,365 |
| Up to 15 |
£1,248/£1,774 |
Primary schools can use their PE and Sport Premium to fund this programme.
Firework
This programme is an alternative to work experience and focus on developing transferable employability skills through a series of structured practical tasks. There is particular emphasis on time keeping, responsibility, health and safety, working with others and discipline.
Secondary and college young people aged between 14-18 years.
One week, 5 hours per day.
| Number of learners | Cost |
| 6-10 | £2, 106 |
| Up to 15 | £2,815 |
All educational talks are free of charge but are intended for youth groups, youth services, youth offending teams, Prince’s Trust programmes and any other agency working with identified vulnerable young people.
Short Talks
Consequences of Arson
Around 60% of fires in West Yorkshire are started deliberately. Many of these are small bin and refuse fires and they can lead to the diversion of resources from life threatening incidents. This session is an adaptable and open discussion between a highly experienced Youth Intervention Trainer and young people on the consequences of arson for themselves, their family, friends and the community.
Road Safety Awareness
An adaptable session for young people of all ages including awareness of the dangers of being a pedestrian all the way through to the causes of road traffic collisions and the impact on victims, family, friends and the community. It will enable young people to make fully informed and therefore better decisions when using the roads as either a pedestrian, passenger or driver.
ASB Impact
Young people engaging in and experiencing anti-social behaviour (ASB) has a negative impact on communities and also has a detrimental effect on an individual’s future progression. In response to an increase in hate crimes, attacks on fire fighters and young people experiencing ASB, this session has been designed. It helps young people identify how ASB impacts the people in their communities, what the consequence of ASB are and what preventative measures they can take to reduce the risk of them been involved.
Firesetter Intervention
If you know of a young person who has demonstrated “fire setting behaviour”, please make a referral to us immediately so we can reduce the change of this becoming a serious or fatal incident.
What is firesetting?
Young people can be interested in fire from a very young age and may show ‘firesetting’ behaviour from as young as two or three years old. Early intervention can significantly reduce the chance of this behaviour continuing.
Firesetter Intervention includes a Safe and Well Visit and the fitting of additional smoke detectors, as well as education on the dangers of playing with or using fire inappropriately. The intervention is usually conducted at home on a one-to-one basis, but can be delivered in other appropriate locations to groups if appropriate. Referrals can come from parents, carers, educators or any partner/agency supporting a young person.
Outcomes
After the delivery of the Firesetter Intervention, the young person’s fire setting behaviour is monitored for three months. In 99% of cases, the behaviour stops. In the few cases where fire setting behaviour continues, WYFRS will work with partner agencies to look at other ways to engage with the young person about the dangers this behaviour poses.
Personal data and privacy
We collect information about young people involved in firesetteing. This information is held in line with the Data Protection legislation. Further details are available in our Privacy Notice which can be downloaded here: Youth Intervention Privacy Notice doc