Learners gain life skills from Fire Service Phoenix Project
Coleg Llandrillo students developed their teamwork and resilience and learned fire safety skills
Eight Coleg Llandrillo students recently completed the Phoenix Project with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
The Phoenix Project is a fire and rescue initiative for young people, aimed at developing qualities such as confidence, resilience and teamwork.
Young people are engaged in fire service activities such as hose-running, ladderwork, firefighting and search and rescue drills. They also learn useful day-to-day skills including First Aid, team-working, risk management and fire safety.
The eight Coleg Llandrillo learners who completed the three-and-half-day course are studying Pathway to Construction Skills, which offers an entry point into the built environment industry.
They attended a ceremony at Llanfairfechan Fire Station, where they were presented with their Phoenix Project certificates by Chair of the Fire Authority Dylan Rees and Assistant Chief Fire Officer Helen McArthur.
One of the learners, Corey Kendrick, said of the Phoenix Project: “It’s hard work, so you’ve got to give props to the people who work here. Learning-wise, it has been amazing. We’ve been learning a lot of new things - climbing ladders, setting up ladders, co-ordination, doing teamwork as well.”
Tutor Chris Dower, Practical Skills Supervisor for Construction, said of the learners: “I think every one of the learners will have taken something different away from this Fire Service course.
“Watching them today has shown me that this course has good values to give to students.
“There are some life skills here - throughout the year I’ve seen them grow, and then particularly this week they’ve bonded as a team. The eight of them have a really good teamwork ethic and hopefully they’ll take that with them.”
Crew manager Tom Plant is the Phoenix co-ordinator for North Wales Fire & Rescue Service.
He said: “The purpose of the project is to build up their resilience, self-discipline, teamwork, self-esteem, motivation - all those types of qualities we need in adult life. We try to give them a helping start with that so they can realise their full potential.
“The students have got on really well. They’ve had to dig in and work really hard in the arduous conditions in the heat with the heavy equipment that they’re using and wearing, and they’ve had to dig deep to find their qualities such as teamwork.”
Do you want to work in the construction industry? Pathway to Construction Skills is ideal for anyone who wants to develop general building skills through practical hands-on experience. Click here for more on Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s range of construction courses.