UK Fire Cadets help shape the expansion of StayWise

Members of the UK Fire Cadets Voice Forum recently came together for a residential weekend at PGL Liddington in Wiltshire to help shape the future of the NFCC’s digital fire safety education platform StayWise.

The residential, organised by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Prevention Hub, brought together cadets and their instructors from Merseyside, Leicestershire, Cheshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Somerset, South Wales, and Northamptonshire.

Over the weekend, the group worked together to design and develop the new UK Fire Cadet section of the StayWise website that will host resources to support cadets with their operational skills and will also feature a wide range of materials that the cadets themselves identified as important to their development. These include:

• Resources to support cadets’ work in schools, communities and with their families about fire safety, first aid, road and water safety.
• Personal development content to help explore future career options — both within and beyond the fire and rescue service
• Guidance for progression through cadet ranks and roles.
• And, for instructors, a dedicated library of resources to support and safeguard cadets and fellow leaders.

Workshops led by the StayWise team helped cadets map out the structure, content and user experience of the new area on the website. Between sessions, cadets also took part in a range of outdoor and team-building activities provided by PGL — making for a productive and inspiring weekend.

The residential weekend was made possible through the recent £500,000 government grant NFCC received from the Department of Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) to expand the reach and impact of the UK Fire Cadets programme, creating more transformative opportunities for hundreds of young people aged 13-18. This includes the enhancement of digital resources via the StayWise fire safety education platform which will be shaped by the UK Fire Cadet Voice Forum with thanks to this residential.

Sarah Mason, NFCC Head of Prevention, said:

“It was fantastic to see our Fire Cadets so engaged in helping to shape their part of our StayWise website. These young leaders are passionate, insightful and full of ideas about how we can make our work more meaningful and accessible. By listening to their views, we’re making sure our services and products reflect what our users truly need. The whole group was incredibly supportive, creative and professional — they are a real credit to their units and their fire and rescue services.”

The insights gathered over the weekend will directly influence the design and content of the Fire Cadets area on StayWise, ensuring that it reflects the voice and priorities of cadets and instructors across the UK.

StayWise to Save Lives, and show your support by registering on the StayWise website, especially important if you are a parent, teacher or have caring responsibilities for young people. Help spread the word!