Safety drills increase vulnerable youngsters’ resilience to harm.

An innovative programme to help vulnerable young people develop inner resilience and stay safe has been praised by Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen.

The PCC visited Spennymoor Fire Station to meet young people involved in an innovative new safety programme delivered by County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS).

The scheme engages young people who are at increased risk of harm and supports them to increase their personal resilience by developing helpful habits that will help them navigate life’s challenges.

During the sessions, young people take part in fire and rescue service activities such as practical drill round scenarios to help raise awareness of personal resilience, healthy relationships and stronger communities.

Young people involved on the scheme also have the opportunity to work towards achieving The Prince’s Trust Level 1 Award in Developing Resilience. The award recognises the effectiveness of supporting learners to develop resilience as part of their journey to a positive future.

Since her election, Commissioner Allen has outlined her vision to make the communities of County Durham and Darlington safer, stronger and more resilient to crime and anti-social behaviour. This is because resilient and cohesive communities are more likely to engage with services, report crime and ASB and get involved in making their areas safer, cleaner and greener.

Speaking after her visit, Commissioner Allen said: “I was really impressed with the programme’s approach, particularly its focus on reducing risk and intervening early before such risks prevent themselves.

“I have adopted a Prevention First approach in my Police and Crime Plan, recognising that most crimes are preventable. This scheme supports the Peelian principle that the police are part of the community, and the community are part of the police. If we give young people the right tools early enough in their development, they will make positive life choices when the need arises and will be less likely to need crisis intervention.

“I am really pleased CDDFRS supports this approach and is delivering this learning in such an engaging, interactive way. The young people involved in this scheme are not only developing self-confidence and leadership skills, they are also equipping themselves with strategies that will keep them out of harm’s way in the future – this is really important for our communities as a whole.”

Lisa Peacock, Young Person Education Coordinator for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, added: “We are so proud of the commitment and dedication shown by the young people involved in the programme, and the development they have achieved as a result.

“We are also delighted to be one of the first fire services nationally to support young people through the newly created The Prince’s Trust Level 1 Award in Developing Resilience.”

CDDFRS delivers targeted programmes to support vulnerable young people and build stronger and safer communities so young people are less likely to need or come into contact with the emergency services in the future.

The programme gives learners a chance to connect with what they already know about resilience and link it through practical experiences. It also engages young people in accessible and relevant social and emotional learning, develops their understanding of personal resilience to compliment other aspects of their learning journey such as maintaining healthy relationships and helps them reflect on their experiences to develop helpful habits to support the adoption of safer behaviours.

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