Out of the Ashes : Stories from Lancashire

In episode 9, we’re shining a light on a surprising but incredibly impactful area of our work at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service—the positive influence we have on children and young adults through our community programs. We’re particularly focused on the King’s Trust Programme, previously known as the Prince’s Trust Programme, which we’ve been proudly delivering for 23 years.

The highlight of this initiative is the Team Programme, a 12-week, full-time course designed to help young people aged 16 to 25 build confidence, motivation, and practical skills. Since its launch in April 2001, we’ve supported over 7,000 young people in our local communities, and we now offer more of these programmes than any other fire and rescue service in the UK.

In this episode, we're joined by three special guests: Caroline Hooson, Youth Engagement Coordinator at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service; Karolina, a Prince’s Trust Support Worker; and Iqraa, who recently completed the programme. Together, we’ll explore the life-changing impact of the Team Programme, hear Iqraa’s personal story, and discuss how the programme equips young people for success—both in their personal lives and future careers.

For more information about the programme, please visit: www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/princes-trust
Links to Resources discussed in the episode:

• Iqraa's article - WORK EXPERIENCE: Iqraa's Time at Colne Life HQ • Colne Life Magazine

This episode was recorded in August and September of 2024. Please note, in October 2024, the Prince's Trust changed their name to The King's Trust, reflecting our Royal Founding President's continued dedication to our work.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In episode four, we speak to Station Manager James Crouan, Firefighters Gary Fernandez and Davey Byers, and our Safety, Health and Wellbeing Advisor Bekki Ford ahead of International Men's Day 2023 (19 November 2023). This day is all about making a positive difference to the well-being and lives of men and boys.
The episode explores each colleague's story and things that helped them, the stigmas they have found around men's mental health and it provides examples on how you can help and support those people around you who may be struggling.
(Please note, We are not medical experts. Our colleagues are sharing their own experiences and stories).
Links to Websites/Resources discussed in the episode:

• uk.movember.com click on the men’s health tab for links to information about spotting the signs, how to have difficult conversations and suicide prevention.
• SHOUT crisis line – text SHOUT to 85258 or visit their website giveusashout.org
• hubofhope.co.uk is a mental health database providing postcode search function, so wherever you are, you can access support.

Work Support:

• If you are a serving or retired fire service personnel (operational or non-operational) the Fire Fighters Charity is there to support you firefighterscharity.org.uk
• Along with their support programmes to improve health and wellbeing they have just launched a crisis line, to support fire service personnel (serving or retired) if they experience thoughts of suicide. The crisis line number is 0300 373 0896

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In episode three, we talk to Paul O’Brien who shares his story of a devastating house fire which began from a seemingly innocent disposable bbq which he placed into a wheelie bin after a day of celebrations back in 2021. The waste from these items can remain hot enough to cause a fire for far longer than people realise. For Paul a £2 disposable bbq caused over £100k of damage and placed him and his family into temporary housing for 2 years.

Together with Paul, we would like to raise the awareness of the dangers these items can pose and how the safe disposal of the hot waste is extremely important. If in any doubt, always douse a disposable bbq with water or tip it into a metal container in a safe place and ensure the contents are fully extinguished before ultimately disposing of it. For more information about barbecues and chimenea safety, please head to our website on www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/bbq

Paul also reflects on his new venture as an on-call firefighter at Lytham and provides an exclusive insight into how his family have found this new role following their house fire, his emotions at his first incident and how it feels to protect his local community. If you would like to know more about becoming an on-call firefighter visit www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/oncall

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

Get ready to listen to our next installment of Out of the Ashes: Stories from Lancashire.

In episode two, join us as we delve deep into the flames that burn over and underground with one of our wildfire experts, Station Manager Rob Harvey. Rob shares his valuable knowledge and first- hand experience of scorching wildfires. We explore how in hot and dry conditions BBQs, campfires and cigarettes can quickly ignite and spread.

As a fire and rescue service, we are now more prepared than ever before to extinguish wildfires with our recent investments in new equipment and resources but ultimately we want people to understand the risks associated with disposable barbecues and naked flames on any type of open grassland and the extensive damage and devastation they cause.

This time of the year is when we see an increase of calls for moorland and grass fires and with the warm and dry weather set to continue over this summer, we want everyone to take extra care and look after Lancashire.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In our first episode, we speak to a woman whose heart stopped beating and the community first responder who, along with the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) crew, saved her life.

Diane Fenton went into cardiac arrest at her home in Leyland in January 2023. Her husband immediately dialled 999 and began chest compressions, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s first ever community first responder, Andy Dow, was the first to arrive on scene.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is running a trial involving non-operational staff volunteering as community first responders from the workplace, supporting North West Ambulance Service. Community first responders are trained to provide life-saving treatment to patients in the vital first few minutes of an emergency until ambulance crews arrive.
If you’re interested in becoming a Community First Responders (CFR), you can send your name and address to [email protected] to find out if NWAS are looking for volunteers in your community.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.