Cadets

Fire Cadets

Derbyshire Fire Cadets is an enjoyable programme where young people commit to attending one night a week at one of our four cadet units during term time.

A typical unit consists of 15 Cadets, all from varied and diverse backgrounds, aged between 13 and 17. The units are supported by our youth officers, and operational firefighters.

The programme provides young people with an insight into working within the fire service and provides an exciting and unique opportunity to:

• Work alongside experienced Fire Cadet Instructors.
• Develop transferable, practical skills for future training or employment.
• The opportunity to gain experience with Duke of Edinburgh award
• Increase your knowledge of fire safety.
• Enhance key citizenship skills and build confidence.
• Work in partnership with other uniformed cadet organisations.
• Play supportive roles in their local community and develop positive peer relationships.
• And represent Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service at prestigious events.

The Fire Cadet units run at the following times and locations:

Fire Station	Date	Time
Shirebrook	Monday	6.15pm - 8.30pm
Chesterfield	Tuesday	6.15pm - 8.30pm
Ilkeston	Wednesday	6.15pm - 8.30pm
Ascot Drive	Thursday	6.15pm - 8.30pm

Joint Police and Fire Cadets

Joint Cadets is open to young people aged between 13 and 17 from a variety of backgrounds; representative of the communities we serve.

As a Cadet you will be treated as a young firefighter/ police officer. You will be provided with your own uniform and be expected to attend a weekly training night. You will be expected to show a good amount of discipline and commitment, just like a Firefighter or Police Officer.  You will learn many of the skills used by Firefighters and Police Officers, which will be challenging but you will work towards various qualifications, all whilst having fun and making new friends. These skills include:

• Understanding and demonstrating basic Fire & Rescue Service activities such as: Road Traffic Collisions, Working at Heights, Pump Operation, Breathing Apparatus and Search & Rescue Techniques; using our specially designed youth kit.
• Understanding and demonstrating policing knowledge and skills and procedures such as: Road Traffic Collisions, Investigations of criminal offences, Operation Policing Unit responsibilities and skills, uniformed foot drill etc
• Gaining an insight into the history and structure of the Police / Fire Service
• Learning the importance of fire safety and the consequences of arson and hoax calls
• Participating in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. This will include an overnight expedition.
• Learning self-discipline and the importance of teamwork
• Undertaking challenges and learning how to problem solve
• Participating in community events with a wide range of partnering agencies, such as the Army, Air Cadets, and more.

The Joint Police and Fire Cadet unit runs at the following time and location:

Fire Station	Date	Time
Buxton	Wednesday	6.00pm - 9.00pm

How can I join?

To join, please click your preferred Cadet station links after which you will be directed to our application form.

• Apply to join our Shirebrook Fire Cadet Unit
• Apply to join our Chesterfield Fire Cadet Unit
• Apply to join our Ilkeston Fire Cadet Unit
• Apply to join our Ascot Drive Fire Cadet Unit
• Apply to join our Buxton Joint Cadet Unit

Once you have submitted your application form it will be added to a waiting list for your chosen unit. If and when a space at the unit becomes available all applications on the waiting list will be assessed and the highest scoring applicant will then be offered a place, with start dates in January, April and September each year. 

Please ensure you complete the application form in full and to the best of your ability to give you the best chance of being successful in the application process.

For further information or if you have any questions regarding applying for Fire Cadets please contact the Youth Team on youth@derbys-fire.gov.uk or the Police Cadet team (Buxton only) on CitizensinPolicing@Derbyshire.Police.UK

If you want to see what our current cadets are getting up to, you can follow them on Twitter @YouthDfrs and Instagram @youthdfrs

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Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service is part of Youth United Foundation, which is a network of voluntary youth groups in the county. If you are interested in exploring cadet and youth group opportunities elsewhere within Derbyshire, visit the Youth United Foundation.