BIDFORD YOUNG FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION (YFA)

Leading Fire-fighter Mike Franklin had noted the success of the first Warwickshire YFA unit set up at Bedworth (a former station he served at) and saw the benefit a unit at Bidford-on-Avon would be to the area for male and female young firefighters aged 11-17 years of age.

 

Meetings were held in 2003 and the retained fire-fighters agreed to support the unit and approached Divisional Officer Nigel Grant (then voluntarily responsible for the Warwickshire YFA –now retired) for support regarding uniform and equipment.

 

An open evening was well attended by local children and adults interested in the potential unit and application forms were handed out for potential young firefighters and for adult Lay Instructors (civilian helpers on whom the unit depends to run).

The initial limit placed by the station was 12 young firefighters and following interviews the unit opened in October 2003 with the following committee and helpers:

 

 

Lay Instructors – Geoff Pulham, Steve Robinson, Sarah Barry, Richard Shepherd, Lucy Shepherd,

 

Retained Instructors – Mike Franklin, Brian Wilkes, Mark Burgess, Samantha Clack

 

After a number of weeks and an interview process a watch system was established with a rank structure of one Young Sub Officer (2 bars) as the senior young fire-fighter and 3 Young Leading Firefighters ( 1 bar) to head each watch. The first Young Sub Officer was 17 year old Philip Robinson (now a retained fire-fighter at Bidford), followed by Jesse Belmonte and the current incumbent Nicola Pulham.

Due to demand the unit expanded to 21 Young Fire-fighters in 2005 – 1 YSub Officer, 4 YLeading Firefighters and 16 YFirefighters.

The Young Fire-fighters take part in fire service based training activities including first aid, but also engage in more ‘youth club’ type activities. They have visited Birmingham Airport, the Fire Control Room, Fire Service College along with non-fire service activities including go-karts and theme park visits. The unit has also attended a number of adventure camps that have included mountain biking, climbing, abseiling, raft building etc

　

Bidford YFA won the first Warwickshire YFA ‘It’s a knockout’ competition organised by the Studley unit. This meant that Bidford had to organise and host the next competition! This Bidford achieved in fine style utilising the Primary School and providing 12 activities (a lot involving water!). Bidford won the event again leading to a second year of hosting and organising the event! To the great delight of the unit leaders Bidford then lost to Warwick YFA and the responsibility to organise moved on! Bidford YFA certainly cemented this activity into the annual YFA event it now is bringing units together from all over the County.

 

The Bidford YFA have raised thousands of pounds for charity over the years by car washing, bag packing, open days and events for such worthy causes as the Poppy Appeal, Tsunami appeal, childline, the Firefighters charity etc

The Bidford YFA had great support from the Parish Council’s of Bidford-on-Avon and Salford Priors in setting up the unit. This included an initial grant on formation that enabled equipment and a second hand Dennis fire appliance to be purchased from Hereford & Worcester Fire Brigade for YFA use. This appliance attended a number of local fete’s and events with the YFA giving demonstrations of their skills. Unfortunately a change in Warwickshire Health & Safety policy has led to this fire appliance not being used anymore. The Bidford YFA have supported community events including the community day, litter-picking and promoting the free Home Fire Safety Check and smoke detector fitting service offered by Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service.

 

The current committee (January 2010) and instructor list is:

 

 

 

The Bidford YFA meet on a Thursday night in term time from 7pm to 9pm at the Bramley Way fire station.