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Frequently Asked Questions for Parents and Carers
Fire Cadets is a national uniformed youth organisation supported by the National Fire Chiefs Council and run by individual Fire and Rescue Services throughout the UK.
Fire Cadets provides fun and challenging inclusive opportunities for young people to reach their full potential whilst contributing to safer, stronger and healthier communities.
Each fire and rescue service deliver its Fire Cadet Programme slightly differently, meaning some Fire Cadet units will make weekly subscription (subs) charges and some units will not.
Additionally, some services may ask for a contribution to the cost of the Fire Cadet uniform.
It is best to check with your local fire and rescue service or Fire Cadet Unit to find out.
The core target age of the Fire Cadet programme is 13-17 years old, however, fire and rescue services may offer Fire Cadets to a different age range.
Fire Cadets is not about creating future firefighters but instead, aims to support young people in developing a range of skills which are transferable to other areas of education, work and life
Whilst some young people who join Fire Cadets do wish to join the fire and rescue service; the Fire Cadet Programme aims to highlight the range of career opportunities available to them.
Fire Cadet Units typically meet on a weekday evening, during school terms, for 2-3hours.
In addition, Fire Cadets may be asked to support or attend additional activities which take place outside of school terms or at weekends. These additional activities may include social action projects, fundraising/charity events, local or national Fire Cadet events.
National Fire Cadet events include:
Fire Cadet Units are based within fire stations, however, not all fire stations have a Fire Cadet Unit.
Check with your local fire and rescue service where they offer Fire Cadets.
Each individual fire and rescue service offer different training packages to its Fire Cadet leaders and volunteers. This includes compulsory safeguarding training for all leaders and volunteers, and background checks with the relevant authority (Disclosure and Barring Service in England and Wales, Disclosure Scotland in Scotland and AccessNI in Northern Ireland) to ensure they are suitable to work with vulnerable groups.
Some of the additional training which leaders may receive includes: working with children and young people, supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, first aid, accreditation (such as Duke of Edinburgh), trauma informed practice.
All Fire Cadet leaders receive the appropriate level of training to handle fire service equipment and to teach young people in line with their Health and Safety policies.
UK Fire Cadets developed a Fire Cadet syllabus which is split into Fire Cadet Award 1 and Award 2, both of which can be completed to achieve an accredited qualification (Level 2 Fire and Rescue Services in the Community).
During Award 1, Fire Cadets complete four modules: induction, operational drills, prevention and protection, and service delivery.
During Award 2, Fire Cadets can complete a range of modules ranging from the history of the fire and rescue service to casualty extrication.
More information about the Fire Cadet syllabus can be found here.
Individual fire and rescue services are responsible for the design and delivery of their own Fire Cadet Programmes, as such they may offer alternative accredited programmes. However, the activities that Fire Cadets take part in across the UK remain similar.