Executive Summary
Key priorities in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s 2024-29 Police and Crime Plan are to ‘Reduce crime, antisocial behaviour and harm’ and to ‘Tackle offending and reoffending’.
These priorities include ensuring young people have access to positive development and diversionary activities to promote community cohesion and positive involvement in the areas where they live.
Cleveland Fire Brigade propose to deliver one two-year Fire Cadets Programme, for secondary school aged young people living within the Cleveland area.
Cadets will meet weekly during term time and engage in additional training and outward bound activities during school holiday periods.
Activities will include preparing and delivering safety presentations to the wider community, developing skills and confidence for the young people whilst improving the safety of residents in the area. Those taking part in the programme will achieve a BTEC Level 2 Award in the Fire and Rescue Service in the Community.
Cleveland Fire Brigade’s Commissioned Services Team will run a robust recruitment campaign in local schools, youth clubs and with local agencies and establish a unit as of April 2026. Each unit costs £22,000 to deliver over a two-year period, which covers staffing, activities and uniforms.
Following receipt of a funding application, the Police and Crime Commissioner met with the Cleveland Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer on 8th January 2026 and agreed to contribute £10,000 from the Community Safety Fund towards the cost of delivering the two‑year programme.
Decision 2025/26 – 028: Contribution towards costs of Fire Cadet Programme (application, 168kB)