Thursday 28 June 2007
09.00hrs
Youths from
Ashfield Young Offenders Institution, in South Gloucestershire, are
embarking on a tour of other secure units across the country to
spread the fire safety message.
Two groups of
young offenders have been taking part in Avon Fire & Rescue
Service’s FireSkills course, where they learn basic firefighting
drill, teamwork and communication skills. They also learn about the
dangers of arson, drugs, travelling in illegal vehicles and making
hoax calls.
On graduating from
the course eight of the youths involved have been selected to
travel to Huntercombe Young Offenders Institution in Oxfordshire to
show off their new skills and talk about what they have learnt.
Avon Fire &
Rescue Service Crew Manager Allan Middleton has been seconded to
Ashfield Young Offenders Institute for the next year to work with
the young people there to try and turn their lives around.
He said: “This is
a fantastic opportunity for other Young Offenders Institutions to
play a positive part in changing the way their offenders
behave.
“All the young
people we take around the country will be transported in secure
vehicles for the trip. They will then show off their drill and
marching skills in the hope other Young Offenders Institutions will
decide to implement the scheme.”
Allan has been
working closely with the Butler Trust, an independent charity
recognising excellence and innovation by people working with
offenders. Last year the trust gave Allan a Development Award at
its annual ceremony. It is believed that Allan is the first person
outside of the prison service to have received this accolade.
Lady Odlie Slynn,
Trustee of the Butler Trust, recently attended a FireSkills
graduation ceremony at Ashfield Young Offenders Institution and
praised the work being done there.
She said: “This
is very impressive. The trust gave a major award to Allan Middleton
and that’s how we got involved. I am very pleased that they are
going to go to another prison to spread the word. It’s great to see
all the young people working together as a team because that’s very
good for them. When you look at the faces of the parents, they
never thought their children had it in them. Avon Fire & Rescue
Service should be proud of its work.”