Monday 12 May
18.00hrs
Firefighters working on the retained duty system at
Weston-super-Mare Fire Station have been improving their Maths,
English and IT skills
The five-strong group have had to work around shouts, changing
shift patterns and family life in a bid to gain Skills for Life
(SfL) qualifications.
Their three months of weekly sessions at Weston-super-Mare Fire
Station have now paid off with all achieving passes in the
subjects. And the group have given their IT skills a boost as a
result of the online training and additional opportunities to
follow tailored computing courses.
Almost £65,000 was awarded to Firing Up - Learning for Retained
Firefighters, a project set up to promote lifelong learning
opportunities across Avon and Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue
Services.
Initiated by the Fire Brigades Union’s (FBU) Union Learn Fund
(ULF), the project, which includes representatives from both Avon
and Gloucestershire, successfully bid for funding from Learning
Works for All (LWfA), a partnership managed by South West TUC.
The project will be rolled out to around six retained fire
stations within the AF&RS area by the time the pilot ends in
2008.
Bill Hendy, FBU ULF Regional Co-ordinator said: "This shows the
value that the FBU puts on supporting firefighters who work on the
retained duty system"
Trudi Cox, the Learning Project Worker for ‘Firing Up’, is
delighted with the results of the Weston-super-Mare training.
She said: “For those who got an O Level all those years ago it
is a chance to update their qualifications in Maths and English, or
gain a national qualification if they have missed out on getting
that all important certificate at school. Some have simply
enjoyed having a go.
“With reports and other non-firefighting tasks now being carried
out on computers, the IT course has also had a benefit to the fire
service.
“The courses have helped the individuals to gain confidence –
and it serves as a reminder about what they can do.”
Firefighter Nigel Pratt’s commitment to the numeracy course was
reflected in his final pass mark of almost 90%.
He said: “For me, it was an opportunity to refresh my skills and
the course certainly helped as it covered aspects that I was a bit
weak on.
“I completed a computer course a few years ago so already had a
good understanding, but Skills for Life has helped enhanced my
learning in this area.
“Being a structured, weekly course did help when trying to fit
the learning around both my ‘day job’ and work as a retained
firefighter, as well as home life. Going into the station once a
week made it easier to concentrate and discipline myself.”
Firefighter Darren Bowden agrees: “As a self-employed plumber,
the IT aspects of the course were really beneficial.
“I enjoyed the course and would sign up for more – the tutors
were very helpful and the course was relevant to my needs.”