The Dorset Fire and Rescue Service provide a uniformed youth development scheme giving young people the opportunity to work with Fire and Rescue Service equipment. This not only provides them with an insight into the work of the fire service but also enables them to develop leadership qualities and team-working skills which will be useful in other areas of their lives.

Cadets undertake a structured training programme comparable to that of operational fire-fighters. This includes training in fire fighting, search and rescue techniques, first-aid, drill training, water safety and life-saving skills. The Cadets complete this competency-based training and achieve a BTEC award which is an amazing achievement in just one evening a week over 20 weeks.

The John Thornton Young Achiever Awards for 2011 were awarded to Fire Cadets Holly Diffey and Sophie Saviour

The Dorset Fire and Rescue Service Awards Ceremony at Lulworth Castle on Thursday 14th July 2011 included the presentation of the John Thornton Young Achievers Awards for Fire Cadets Holley Diffey and Sophie Saviour. Pete Thornton was honoured to be invited to present the awards to two such outstanding young Fire Cadets.

Holly and Sophie spent 20 weeks as Dorset Fire and Rescue Service Cadets, where they excelled as team players and gained an incredible amount from the course. Holly and Sophie were presented with the John Thornton Young Achiever Awards 2011, which were extremely well deserved.

Picture: The John Thornton Young Achiever Awards awarded to Fire Cadets Holly Diffey (left) and Sophie Saviour (right)

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Bursary Awarded to Fire Cadet Holly Diffey

Holly was awarded a JTYAF scholarship for an expedition to Nepal scheduled for December 2011. She was selected by Leading Edge Expeditions to join eleven other pupils from her school on this fantastic expedition to Nepal which will give her the opportunity to develop leadership skills in a unique environment and make a difference to the local community by volunteering in the remote mountain village of Okhle. The JTYAF is delighted to support Holly with this expedition and very much looks forward to hearing all about the trip on her return.

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Bursary Awarded to Fire Cadet Sarbaz Roushbaiani

Sarbaz attended the 20 week Cadet Programme at Springbourne Fire Station and was selected for a bursary award to support his boxing career. The award will pay for subscription to his Boxing Club for one year and also some essential equipment. Sarbaz is a talented boxer and we hope that this support will enable him to achieve the success he deserves.

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Scholarship awarded to Dorset Fire & Rescue Service Cadets

Pete and Linda Thornton were honoured to be invited to the Dorset Fire & Rescue Service Awards Ceremony which was held at Lulworth Castle on Tuesday 13th July. It was an absolute privilege to join the celebrations in such auspicious surroundings and the diversity of the awards was testament to the wide range of work that the Service is involved in. Pete was invited to award the John Thornton Fire Cadet Award to Matt Hoskins who was the Cadet that had made the most progress during the Cadets 20 week course in Dorchester. Jade Saubadu was awarded the John Thornton Fire Cadet Award from the Fire Cadet Scheme in Gillingham.

Picture: Matt Hoskins receiving the John Thornton Fire Cadet Award presented by Pete Thornton

The Dorset Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS) Cadets Scheme run for the first time in Dorset at Gillingham and Dorchester Fire Stations is a uniformed youth development scheme giving young people the opportunity to work with Fire and Rescue Service equipment. This not only provides them with an insight into the work of the fire service but also enables them to develop leadership qualities and team-working skills which will be useful in other areas of their lives. Cadets undertake a structured training programme comparable to that of operational fire-fighters. This includes training in fire fighting, search and rescue techniques, first-aid, drill training, water safety and life-saving skills. The Cadets completed this competency-based training and achieved a BTEC award which is an amazing achievement in just one evening a week over 20 weeks. The Cadets passed out at the end of March and were very proud to provide an excellent display which demonstrated their progress.

During the course the Cadets were offered the opportunity to apply for an award from the JTYAF in order to help them in pursuit of their ambitions and applications received from Chris Willis, Louise Bakewell and Matt Hoskins totalling £1,700 were all successful.

The DFRS Cadets Scheme is set to continue in the Autumn and the JTYAF look forward to developing their partnership with the Dorset Fire & Rescue Service so that opportunities can be made available for as many local young people as possible.

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