Youth schemes team up at GMFRS

Young cadets from uniformed services across the county teamed up at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) recently to design a new logo

Young cadets from uniformed services across the county teamed up at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) recently to design a new logo.

Youth United was set up around 18 months ago to bring together young people from various uniformed and emergency services and armed forces cadet schemes in Greater Manchester.

The idea of the project was to bring together people from all backgrounds to share training facilities and ideas, and it followed the success a similar project in London.

The Greater Manchester project incorporates young people from GMFRS Community Fire Cadets, The Scouts Association, Girl Guides, St John Ambulance, Army Cadets; The Sea Cadets, Boys' Brigade, Girls' Brigade, Volunteer Police Cadets and Air Training Corps.

It is chaired by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Warren Smith and has a board of trustees which includes GMFRS' County Fire Officer Steve McQuirk and Greater Manchester Police's Chief Constable Peter Fahy.

The aim of Youth United is to promote positive activities and instil a sense of civic responsibility in all young people in Greater Manchester through fun and adventure.

GMFRS' Children and Young People Programmes Manager John Cartwright said: "We've been holding meetings regularly since Youth United was established and we decided that the organisation should have its own logo. So GMFRS agreed to host a day for the young people from the different schemes to get together at the Training and Development Centre in June to design a logo.

"GMFRS' graphic designer Chris Marsden came along to offer his advice and support to the young people and work with them on their designs.

"The designs were absolutely excellent and it's going to be tough to choose between them. It was nice to see the young people working together from different organisations working towards a similar goal.

"We now have a selection of designs, three of which we will be submitting to the Greater Manchester Lord Lieutenant to pick a winner which will become the Youth United logo."

The logo competition was the first joint project the group has worked on but it is hoped that more joint activities and training will take place in the near future.

The original project was set up by the Metropolitan Police in Croydon and the idea spread to the rest of London under the banner YOU London. The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, is an avid supporter of the Youth United scheme nationally.