Chair of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority, Phil Tye is pictured alongside Sunderland student Jacob Binding at TWFRS Service HQ.

A Sunderland schoolboy has had a chance to join the fire and rescue service for the day – to see what it takes to keep Tyne and Wear safe.

Jacob Binding, 13, took part in ‘National Young People’s Takeover Day’ which saw young people from across the country take up senior leadership roles for the day.

Jacob shadowed Councillor Phil Tye, who is a senior councillor for Sunderland City Council and also the Chair of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority.

The teenager embarked on a whistle-stop tour of the North-East as he helped to deliver Councillor Tye’s daily diary.

The day took Jacob to Middlesbrough, Washington and Sunderland enabling him to observe and in some cases help to influence the decision-making of the day.

He visited amongst other places the Service Headquarters of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service in Washington and a youth club in Cllr Tye’s Silksworth constituency where he volunteers.

When Jacob popped in to Service HQ he got a guided tour of the busy Fire Control room where all of the 999 emergency calls across Tyne and Wear are dealt with.

He got to meet the Control team and chatted with the staff about the vital role that they play within the Service.

Chair of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority, Phil Tye is pictured alongside Sunderland student Jacob Binding in the TWFRS Fire Control Room

Jacob also visited the TWFRS Prevention and Education department where all of the public facing fire safety campaigns are developed and delivered.

The team also undertake Safe and Well visits for residents across the region to give them safety advice and provide essential smoke alarms and heat detectors.

“I enjoyed my day it was really good,” explained Jacob.

Jacob attends St Aidan’s Catholic Academy School in Sunderland. He is one of five siblings alongside his three brothers, Jamie, Toby and Robin and sister Isabelle. They live with their parents in New Silksworth, Sunderland.

Jacob added: “It was interesting to see what the working world is like. There was a lot going on throughout the day with a great deal of people to meet as part of my role. I went to a school, the Fire Service and a youth club.

“In particular it was great to visit the Fire Service and see what goes on in the Control Room. I’ve yet to decide my future job when I leave school but this was certainly a day to remember.”

Chair of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority, Phil Tye, said: “It was my pleasure to show Jacob the ropes and provide him with a packed day where he got to experience a wide variety of different elements.

“Not only was it a learning curve for Jacob but I also found it very beneficial. It gave me an opportunity to see my day through the eyes of a young person, and witness how they would approach the key decisions being made.

“Jacob was very enthusiastic and a pleasure to work alongside.”

Find out more information about the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority on the TWFRS website.