Charitable teenagers who raised £1,000 for charity have been rewarded for their contribution to their community.

Last year, a cadet group from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) decided they wanted to do more for charities in the region.

The youngsters were inspired by the stories of pupils at the Hadrian School in Newcastle, an establishment catering for those with specialist needs.

It relies on charitable donations to purchase life-changing equipment for the children who attend the school.

The fire cadets from West Denton Community Fire Station underwent a series of challenges, including running out three miles of heavy hose reel.

It helped them raise £1,000 for the school which was used to purchase a hoist to help pupils with mobility issues.

This effort saw them receive an award from the High Sheriff alongside funding that has now been used to purchase equipment for the cadets.

A brand new hose reel and hose branch will allow them to expand the firefighting activity they practice during their cadet meetings.

That will help them hone their skills and potentially put them in a position to work towards being wholetime firefighters in their future careers.

Today (Thursday) TWFRS’s Community Relationship Manager is praising the cadets for their continued support and effort in their local community.

Kristen Lynn said, “These cadets are such role models for others in their community, they are hardworking and inspirational.

“Our cadets often represent the service at different events round the service area so it’s lovely to see that they are living our values every single day.

“I am incredibly proud of them for winning the High Sheriffs award last year and it’s absolutely no surprise that they are using their prize money to help their community.

“Young people often get a bad reputation for their actions in the community but we know first-hand about the good work they can do when they are in the right environment.”

The new equipment had its first outing in the community as West Denton cadets took part in a Morrison’s charity challenge for 2023.

The charity needed some helping hands as part of their butterfly trail to support Together for Short Lives charity. Together for Short Lives is a UK registered charity for children’s palliative care.

Friday (18th August) saw two cadets and two instructors transport the butterfly from West Denton to Blaydon as part of the trail, the first outing for the newly acquired appliance.

Molly Black is one of the young people who took part in the charity challenge and is encouraging others in their area to get involved in positive community engagement.

Molly said “Being part of the fire cadets is something that I’m really proud of, we work hard to uphold the name of the fire service wherever we go.

“I enjoy getting involved in the community because it really does open your eyes as to the different things the fire service does and I get to meet interesting people in the process.

“When we won the High Sheriff’s award last year I was so proud of my fellow cadets for their hard work and positive attitude.

“I might not go on to be a firefighter in the future but I am so lucky to have this experience and be part of something that makes a difference to people’s lives.”

TWFRS Cadets are aged 11-17 and meet across the region at different fire stations to improve their communication and leadership skills as well as learning what it takes to be a firefighter.

If you are interested in becoming a fire cadet, you can find more information on TWFRS’s website.