Youngsters complete ASB course at Rochdale station

Young people perform fire and rescue demonstrations for their families at a passing out parade after completing an anti-social behaviour course at Rochdale Fire Station over the school holidays

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A group of young people performed fire and rescue demonstrations for their families at a passing out parade after completing an anti-social behaviour course at Rochdale Fire Station over the school holidays.

The youngsters, who range in age from 10 to 14-years-old, were referred onto the course by the Rochdale Youth Offending Team (YOT).

On Saturday, August 18, the group performed a drill for their families at a passing out parade, where they collected certificates for completing the anti-social behaviour module of the ASDAN Fire and Rescue qualification.

Starting in July with a road traffic collision demo which the youngsters got involved in, the group has completed five afternoon sessions with Blue Watch at the station.

The aim of the course was to raise awareness of the consequences of anti-social behaviour and provide the young people with a greater understanding of the work of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) and help to reduce the number of anti-social behaviour related incidents, such as nuisance fires and hoax calls over the school holidays.

Mouzan Hussain, aged 14, was placed onto the course because he had deliberately started fires at his home in the past.

After the course, Mouzan said: “I won’t start fires again, definitely not. If friends or other young people said they wanted to start a fire I would tell them just don’t do it. Just forget it and walk away.”

He said the best part of the course was the road traffic collision demo, adding: “It was the best but it was scary. It made me think and scared me about being stuck inside.”

The ASDAN Fire and Rescue programme is divided into eight modules: communication, practical skills, safety and health, community safety, anti-social behaviour, road safety, teamwork and leadership.

GMFRS' Children and Young People coordinator for Rochdale, Sarah Draper, said: "The course is quite flexible and we can choose what courses to deliver - we've been focusing on the anti-social behaviour module because it's relevant to this particular group of young people because of their age and background.

"We included the road traffic collision demo to give them a flavour of the road safety module because although they're too young to drive, we want to prevent them feeling peer pressured into getting into a car with someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"They have gained one credit of the ASDAN accredited qualification for the anti-social behaviour module and now they have the option of doing the other modules.

“All the young people said they would like to continue on the course to gain another credit. They said they’d like to come back in September to study the Community Safety module.

“I’m hoping to run this course over six weeks, one day a week after school from the community room at Rochdale Fire Station where we’ve been holding the sessions this summer. Other young people from Rochdale will also take part in this course, including youngsters on the new FireSmart programme.”

FireSmart is a free, confidential programme offering education and advice to anyone aged 17 years and under who may be exhibiting signs of fire setting behaviour.

If you are concerned about a child or young person who is involved in fire setting behaviour, please contact us on 0800 555 815.