New REFLECT Street Firefighter

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) introduces new Youth Intervention initiative ‘Street Firefighter’ under the REFLECT Project. 

The REFLECT Project can be broadly described as a series of interventions which helps develop practical skills, raise awareness of the outcomes of actions and helps build a young person’s resilience and positively strengthens their decision-making processes. This is achieved by engaging with children and young people aged 11-25 using a targeted approach.  

The REFLECT Project’s general principles have evolved from prevention to early intervention and engagement, through youth participation. It is through the building of relationships and education that we work to empower children and young people, as they learn about situational awareness and the impact of their decisions and actions. 

What is Street Firefighter? 

Street Firefighter is a new intervention initiative that provides a vibrant and varied opportunity to young people in communities with low engagement, community tension and other varying issues. It’s designed to encourage and motivation them to adopt a healthier lifestyle of positive thinking and the building of self-resilience within life. 

This method of intervention is known as ‘doorstep intervention’ and is an emerging style of community engagement and youth delivery. While there is still a lot to learn, the belief is that with the introduction of Street Firefighter, we can bring a creative and flexible approach to new situations and challenges. 

This type of intervention allows us to bring Fire Service interventions to the heart of our communities at the right time, to the right place and in the right way.  

These ideas are combined with insight from a wide range of disciplines including youth work and operational activities, will aim to create a totally modern, high-impact Fire Service engagement offer. 

What is the aim of Street Firefighter? 

Its aim is to create a vehicle to help build and restore relationships within the communities by offering the local children and young people a safe space to engage, build resilience and life skills and help start to create a pathway to implement positive life choices. It will also aim to raise awareness of the outcomes of actions by engaging with children and young people in a targeted approach. 

Youth and Volunteer Manager for SWFRS, Nicola Wheten, said: 

“Doorstep interventions such as Street Firefighter can have a positive impact on social inclusion and increase the personal achievements of young people.

By working with our partners, we can continue to work to make a difference through a variety of engagement methods, draw on experience and expertise and share resources. 

It’s flexible and can be tailored to fit the needs of individual groups, all taking place in the local community.”