A GMFRS youth worker, who is part of the Salford Integrated Prevention Hub (SIPH), has successfully delivered an education programme to pupils at a Salford high school.
SIPH Youth Engagement Co-ordinator Greg Bithell works in Swinton and has close links with young people in the area, including a group of Year 7 pupils at Swinton High School.
Greg said: “I wanted to engage with young people around prevention from an earlier age so I designed a six-week programme called FIRE (Future Intervention Respect Education) working with Year 7 pupils from Swinton High School which I delivered one day a week.
“The aim of the programme, as well as prevention, was to also improve attainment levels by focussing on respect, education, team work, responsibility, making right choices and improving confidence and self-esteem.
“I put together an interactive programme which engaged the group of eight, who were all from the Swinton area, through various activities such as building a shelter and interactive learning including first aid, knife crime and anti-social behaviour.
“During the programme we worked closely with the crew at Agecroft Community Fire Station as well as partners like British Red Cross, Challenge 4 Change and SIPH partners, Greater Manchester Police and Salford Council.”
On completion of the programme the youngsters received a certificate during a presentation on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at Swinton High School.
Greg continued: “During the presentation the boys were joined by their families and friends. The group delivered a speech and we played a video showing some of the work the group had done.
“Teachers at the school felt it was very successful and are keen to sign up for a future programme.”
