Wondering what to expect? It's all covered here...
How much time do I need to give?
Volunteers typically help one evening a week, which varies depending on where the units are held. Your help may also be needed for occasional weekends.
Where can I volunteer with Fire Cadets?
We have Fire Cadet units in all of the 32 London boroughs, and the City of London.
What happens at a Fire Cadets session?
The programme, which lasts 12 months, helps young people build their confidence while also learning about:
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the use of firefighting equipment and the incidents attended by London Fire Brigade.
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fire safety in the home and the community.
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youth social action activities to make your community safer and better.
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supporting London Fire Brigade at open days and events.
What will I learn as a Volunteer Instructor?
You'll have the opportunity to gain a range of transferable skills as well as having the chance to complete a number of accredited courses including:
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Drill Yard Supervision – how to safely supervise practical activities performed by the Cadets on our drill yard.
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Safeguarding Children – a bespoke course designed specifically for the emergency services, which identifies what is meant by safeguarding and child abuse. It helps you spot the signs and know how to respond.
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Managing Challenging Behaviour – identifying and making correct and consistent responses to challenging behaviours.
- Equalities and Diversity - learn how to identify and tackle unlawful discrimination in the workplace and help improve the workplace culture in which you volunteer.
What skills and experience do I need to help?
Our volunteers don't need to have experience of working with young people, just a passion for helping change a young person's life for the better. There are some practical requirements too. To join us, you'll need:
- To be 18 or over.
- To be willing to commit to regular weeknight evenings and occasional weekends during term time.
- A desire to work with young people.
All volunteers are, of course, required to complete mandatory training including an induction into London Fire Brigade, safeguarding children, and managing challenging behaviour, as well as undergoing an enhanced DBS check.
5 reasons to support Fire Cadets
First and foremost, because it's really rewarding, and really good fun. But there are lots of other reasons too:
- Give young people the best possible start – Fire Cadets make an incredible difference to young lives. And that's an incredible feeling.
- Be part of the firefighting community – join us as a volunteer, and you join the Brigade family, playing a real role in making London a safer place.
- Make new friends and amazing memories – be part of some very unique experiences that most people can only dream of!
- Get ahead if you're jobhunting – if you're looking for work, volunteering experience is a great way to prove your skills, and we can act as a reference, too.
- Gain valuable experience – and get free training in safeguarding children, managing challenging behaviour, and supervising young people in practical activities.
Changing lives when you volunteer with Fire Cadets – watch our video
Meet real Cadets, get an idea of what it's like, and see whether volunteering might be for you.
Fire Cadets for Volunteers – watch our video and meet current Fire Cadets.