Five S3 pupils from Garnock Community Campus have successfully completed the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Community Leaders Fire Skills Programme.
Gaining valuable life skills, confidence and practical emergency response training.
The four-week programme, delivered in partnership with the Garnock Valley Locality Team, K:A Leisure, Garnock Community Campus and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, is designed to help young people develop leadership qualities while learning essential fire safety and first aid skills.
Training took place at Kilwinning Fire Station, where the pupils completed 35 hours of hands-on learning alongside professional firefighters. Throughout the course, they developed a range of transferable skills including basic hose and hydrant drills, first aid and CPR, teamwork, communication, leadership, problem-solving and community safety awareness.
As part of the programme, the group also travelled to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s National Training Centre in Cambuslang, where they experienced realistic emergency scenarios designed to test both their physical and mental resilience.
The demanding exercises included tackling a simulated house fire, assessing multiple vehicle collision scenes and navigating a challenging assault course featuring tunnels and elevated walkways.
The programme concluded with a drill demonstration and awards presentation, where each participant received an official Fire Skills Certificate alongside a CPR and Defibrillator qualification.
Ian Campbell, Local Area Liaison Officer with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, praised the pupils for their commitment throughout the programme.
“It was my pleasure to join the team at Kilwinning Fire Station to congratulate our first North Ayrshire Fire Skills recruits of 2026, who have absolutely given this course their all over the past month,” he said.
“This programme is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when schools, community organisations and emergency services work together to engage and inspire young people.
“The feedback from firefighters has been outstanding. Every pupil showed determination, responsibility and teamwork throughout the training, and it was rewarding to see how much they had grown in confidence by the final drills.
“We’re proud to offer this unique learning experience for young people aged between 12 and 18, helping them build practical skills while gaining a greater understanding of the role the fire service plays in keeping communities safe.”
Mr Campbell also confirmed the programme will continue later this year with care-experienced young people from North Ayrshire taking part in partnership with the Council’s Corporate Parenting team.
Councillor Alan Hill, North Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Housing and Islands, thanked everyone involved in delivering the initiative.
“I would like to thank K:A Leisure, the Garnock Valley Locality Team and the firefighters at Kilwinning Fire Station for giving their time to support this programme,” he said.
“It is encouraging to see plans already in place to engage more schools and community groups across North Ayrshire.
“Taking part has allowed these young people to build confidence, improve their concentration and communication skills, and discover the value of teamwork and resilience.
“They have developed a stronger sense of pride in their community and, most importantly, greater belief in themselves and what they can achieve. They should all be extremely proud of their efforts.”
The Community Leaders Fire Skills Programme aims to equip young people with practical life skills while encouraging confidence, leadership and active citizenship through hands-on learning alongside Scotland’s firefighters.