Phoenix Community Fire Safety Project

The Phoenix Fire Safety Project is run through Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade and the scheme provides a week of work experience with uniformed Fire Fighters, during which they receive training identical to that of a newly recruited fire fighter. Young people aged 14 to 17 years are referred through Sunderland Youth Offending Service by their caseworker.

The range of activities undertaken includes classroom-based learning, health and safety, team building tasks, work experience, problem solving, equipment use and skill-based work.

The project has been particularly successful in engaging disaffected young people with high attendance rates as a direct result of the nature, content and delivery of the programme. The successes of the scheme have lead to interest in the project throughout the Fire Service nationally. The Project promotes personal and social development through the teamwork skills of direct involvement in the tasks of a fire fighter. It reinforces the importance of family and promotes values of responsibility to others.

In a press release on 20th June 2005 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the Phoenix Project in Sunderland as a project leading the way in working with potential fire-setters, and educating young people about the importance of fire safety. The article provides some facts and figures on arson, these include:-

• The overall annual cost of fire in England and Wales is around £7.7 billion. Of this, arson accounts for £2.8 billion.

• More than 50,000 children every year have their education disrupted by a school fire - many of them started deliberately.

Examples of positive feedback outlining the Project's success:

I have thoroughly enjoyed it and I think we all gained a lot from the team work" - young person

"Since Peter attended the Fire Brigade his whole attitude had changed" - parent

"David returned to school with a positive attitude and a change in behaviour" - teacher

The Project demonstrates a positive and successful working relationship between the Fire Brigade and Sunderland Youth Offending Service.

Community Care Awards 2001

The Phoenix Community Fire Safety Project won a national Community Care Award, in 2001, for creative and innovative work with young offenders, and also received a nomination in the Community Safety Awards. The project provides an intensive work experience course with the Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade for young offenders and those at risk of offending.

This project is part funded through Neighbourhood Renewal Funding