Norfolk Fire Cadet Units looking for teenagers who are willing to accept a new challenge and join fire cadet units becoming a firefighter.

Norfolk fire and rescue service set up the first fire cadet scheme in the UK in 1984, and now there are five fire cadet units around the county in Wymondham, Diss and Hunstanton.

It’s an exciting and unique opportunity provided to those who aged between 13 and 17 to develop both their personal and social skills. As well as a great chance to learn the basic firefighting skills by participating in a wide range of activities in or around their local fire station.

The fire cadets will be treated as young firefighters. They will be required to demonstrate a certain degree of discipline and commitment. They will be provided with their own uniforms and get a chance to learn more firefighting skills of a firefighter by attending a weekly drill night at their local fire station. Since the fire cadet units are all managed by operational fire fighters, giving cadets opportunity to learn directly the skills needed by professionals from them.

Ben, 13 years, cadet from Norfolk fire and rescue service, said: “We normally take one of the four hundred talked to the Juilliard will we’ve got like a pit we can open that up, put a light weight pump into, then we just pop and go up in this house and matters, spray some water. I leant team-building, leadership.”

Fire cadets also contributed to the community by taking part in community events and helped Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service to develop community safety strategy. Many young cadets who were cadets now work for fire cadet units or have a successful position in the fire and rescue service.

Ryan, Former cadet and cadet leader, now a retained firefighter at Wymondham, said: “Start off as a cadet when I was 12 years old, I went through the ranks as a cadet till I was 18 and then joined as a leader, window teaching the cadets and then from that I then apply for the fire brigade. You learnt so much and you get so much life experience being a cadet.”

This fire cadet scheme can help young people gain a deeper understanding of fire protection and firefighting skills, as well as learn how to be self-disciplined and team-worked while meeting new people in their group. If you are interested in becoming a cadet or just want to find out more information, you can email Lydia.Durrant@fire.norfolk.gov.uk, or visit Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service website.