By Linzi Watson

Last updated 13:30, Thursday, 06 March 2008

A GROUP of teenage firefighters from Carlisle demonstrated some new lifesaving skills at a passing out parade yesterday.

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Team work: The teenage firefighters work together during a fire drill

The keen rookies have graduated from an intensive course completing search and rescue operations, learning about road safety, first aid and working with breathing apparatus.

The young firefighters scheme is designed to build confidence and self esteem as well as teaching valuable skills and social awareness using firefighters as positive role models.

The group of 14 and 15-year-olds from Newman School and North Cumbria Technology College staged a dramatic demonstration in front of impressed relatives and friends at Carlisle fire station.

They were then presented with certificates by Cumbria’s assistant chief fire officer Ian Cartwright.

He said: “This scheme is one of the things we are extremely proud of. We are working with these children who are at a vulnerable age and teaching them skills that will hopefully influence their life choices.”

Instructor Craig Drinkald, who has been working with the team alongside fellow instructor Tony Paterson, said: “The young firefighters scheme is a springboard that youngsters can develop from.

“It is about personal development and we have used all the exciting parts of fire fighting to engage these kids with great results.

“We don’t do too much in-classroom training, mostly working outside.”

He said after the fire and rescue demonstration: “If this is what they can learn in just a few hours think what they can achieve if we invest more time in them and push them along.”

This group is the sixth to graduate from the programme and this time around the students were selected after interviews.

Briony McCormick, 15, from Botcherby, was full of admiration for the scheme.

The NCTC student said: “This is absolutely the best thing I have ever done.

“It has been incredible and I have learned so much.“It has inspired me to work towards a job in the fire service.“I want to join the army when I am 18 and hopefully go on to work in the fire and rescue service when I am 23.“I would encourage more people to become young firefighters.”

Ruben Pereira, 15, also from Botcherby is a student a Newman School. He said: “This has been a great experience.“I have learned skills that could save peoples’ lives.

“My family have really encouraged me and I am very proud of myself.”