Achievement for youngsters on life course

Seven dropped out but the remaining seven faced all challenges head on and were able to celebrate their achievement with families and firefighters on Friday.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Services' youth intervention manager Vicky Thomas said that fourteen young people had started the course but not all were able to finish because of behaviour issues and not being able to fulfill their part of the behaviour agreement drawn up at the beginning.

She commented: "As a result we have seven people who deserve to be here for the pass out day.

"They have managed their behaviour, and been able to keep to the discipline contract and complete the tasks set up for them. They did a lot of challenges, for instance, we put them in breathing apparatus exercises, and they all climbed the ladder to the third floor of the tower.

"Every single young person who is here today has overcome various fears and various challenges, and will leave us with the belief they can achieve anything they set their mind on.

"That's the whole purpose...that we end up with a group of young people who have raised their self belief, their self worth, their self-motivation, and their self-esteem, and been working alongside positive role models.

"My belief is that if we come out of this world having changed the life of just one young person it will be worth it. But we know we change a lot of young people's lives. We get feedback from them all the time. We set them on a different path."

This was the fifth year that the Life course has been running and locally there have now been 30 courses. Youngsters spend a week learning the same skills that fire fighters do when they begin their training.