Seven dedicated S3 pupils from the Garnock Valley have become 2025’s first recruits to complete the Community Leaders Fire Skills Programme.
Delivered in partnership with Garnock Valley Locality team, KA Leisure and Garnock Community Campus, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Fire Skills training programme is a flexible course aimed at encouraging young people to gain confidence and learn practical first aid and fire safety skills.
Over the past two months, the recruits have taken part in a range of sessions based on firefighter drills where teamwork is at the heart of the unique learning experience. Completing 35 hours training in total with professional firefighters at Kilwinning Fire Station, the pupils have learned a host of new transferable skills including:
Basic hose and hydrant drills
First aid and CPR
Confidence and communication
Teamworking and leadership
Problem solving
Citizenship skills
Learning about the importance of community safety roles
At a drill and awards presentation on Tuesday 11 February, Area Commander Ian McMeekin said:
“It is my pleasure to join the team at Kilwinning Fire Station to congratulate our first fire skills recruits of 2025 who have absolutely given this course their all over the past two months.
“This is a brilliant example of how we are working alongside local schools, communities and our partners to champion and re-engage local young people.
“In the awards presentation, we welcomed an audience of proud parents and guardians who witnessed the strength and determination of each and every pupil involved. During the drills, everyone took their responsibilities seriously, moved swiftly and safely and it really was a joy to see the culmination of everything they have learned on display for everyone to admire and celebrate.
“We are proud to work closely with our community partners to deliver this bespoke learning experience for young people aged between 12 and 18 who want to develop key skills in a practical setting.
“It’s amazing to see the sense of fulfilment and increased confidence in the pupils having achieved their fire skills programme. We also hope that the recruits now have an increased understanding of the important work that we do alongside other partnership agencies to keep the communities of North Ayrshire safe.
“Well done to everyone for their efforts and commitment, it’s been brilliant having you on board.”
On completion the pupils received an official Fire Skills Certificate and British Heart Foundation CPR/Defib Certificate. Visit the Fire Scotland website for more information on Fire Skills community training courses.
The first time in four years since the training has been delivered in North Ayrshire, the intake of young people were identified by the Garnock Valley Locality team – part of the council’s Community Learning and Development team who are continuing to working closely with pupils across North Ayrshire to encourage them to take up volunteering and training opportunities beyond their schools.
He added:
“On behalf of our Connected Communities team, I would like to share my sincere thanks to KA Leisure, the Garnock Valley Locality team and of course to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and to their firefighters at Kilwinning Fire Station for giving up their time to deliver this training.
“It is encouraging to learn the team are already engaging with other local schools and community groups to identify more recruits for 2025."
The delivery of the course via the Kilwinning Fire Station’s Community Action team forms part of North Ayrshire’s Wellbeing Alliance and Local Outcomes Improvement Plan – a strategic plan and requirement under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
This plan lays the foundation for the vital partnership working of agencies such as North Ayrshire Council, the council’s Community Planning Partnership, KA Leisure, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue and more on locality actions laid out to improve the health, wellbeing and positive life outcomes of everyone living in North Ayrshire.
To find out more about community projects like this one in your area, contact your locality officer via info@northayrshire.community
