Thursday 15 May
10.00hrs
Avon Fire & Rescue Service, Bristol Rugby and the
Breakthrough Project are celebrating after winning the one of the
prestigious 2007/08 EDF Energy Parlimentary Citizenship Awards for
work completed on their Inferno Programme.
The programme engages and educates some of the most disaffected
young people in our community, namely those in Young Offenders
Institutions and Pupil Referral Units by helping them to identify
and deal with their anger management and self-awareness.
The Phoenix Project was presented with the Innovation Award by
representatives from the Department of Health, the Department for
Children Schools and Families, the Department for Culture, Media
and Sport, Positive Futures, and the Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) department of BT Wholesale at The Houses Of
Parliament on Wednesday 14 May 2008.
Community Safety Officer for Avon Fire & Rescue Service,
Jack Russell, said: “We are delighted to have won this award. It is
fantastic recognition for the work we have been doing to reach out
to young people and try to prevent them from getting involved in
anti-social behaviour. We also give them fire and road safety
advice in a fun and easy-to-relate-to way.”
“Because of the success of the scheme we are now delivering the
Inferno Programme to offenders at Ashfield and Eastwood Park
Prisons and have been talking to Exeter Chiefs and Newport Gwent
Dragons about how to implement similar schemes in their area.”
Bristol Rugby’s Community Development Manager, Ben Breeze
said: “What started out as a concept at the beginning of the
season has been developed through a number of feasibility and pilot
schemes into a very successful and high impact programme. I
would like to thank everyone who has helped this programme evolve
into what has become today, especially those at Avon Fire &
Rescue Service for their open minded approach to engaging and
educating some of the most disaffected young people in our
community.
“To receive a national award like this within the first year of
launching The Phoenix Project, is a huge honour for the club and
the partnership we have formed and it is testament to the amount of
hard work has been put in by all
concerned.”