Tobias visited the SPARC Programme held by Dorset Fire and Rescue Service at Springbourne Fire Station as students completed their week’s course.
The S.P.A.R.C. project (Safer People and Responsible Communities) is to for young people from vulnerable groups including those who have committed offences, are at risk of doing, have been excluded from school or are at risk of exclusion, are the victims of crime, bullying etc.
The course students are put through their paces in an intensive week long programme based at a local Fire Station by specially trained firefighters with the main aim to help prevent young people from becoming persistent offenders or being permanently excluded from school. The course is designed to provide a disciplined and focussed team environment where each individual student is given personal responsibility for the management and maintenance of equipment and themselves. The course is specifically designed to challenge and change the attitude and behaviour by encouraging students to adopt a new set of personal values, understand the consequences of firesetting and antisocial behaviour, work co-operatively with others, improve their learning and performance skills and gain self esteem and self confidence and to improve communication skills.