Youngsters given chance to turn their LIFE around by firefighters

The course is run by local firefighters, who have proved to be successful role models for nearly 100 participants so far in South Yorkshire. Many have built on the experience by improving their education attendance and applying to be firefighters.

Candidates for LIFE are put forward by local schools or Youth Offending Teams before taking the five-day course at their local fire station.

Eight young people attended Edlington fire station last week to learn basic firefighting techniques and other skills.

Crew manager Andy Kirwan, from the Community Safety Directorate, said: "Participants could have been in trouble with the law or could simply be finding it hard to mix at school.

"LIFE brings these youths together in a new environment and rewards positive behaviour. But we also have a rigid code of conduct that the youths may not have experienced before, and we always enforce this if necessary. This shows them that they can succeed in life, and really enjoy it too, if they make the right choices.

"If the young people successfully complete the course they receive a portfolio showing their acquired skills such as teamwork, motivation and attendance, as well as first aid and basic firefighting skills.

"Many participants have already used this to help them move on to further education or apply for jobs, which shows how we've helped to turn their lives around."