A 12 week course to help young people in the Wisbech area who are not in employment, education or training boost their confidence and find work will be run at the town’s fire station.

The Prince’s Trust Team Programme, targeted at disadvantaged 16 to 25 year olds, will be made up of teambuilding activities, a week-long residential, community project, work placements, careers advice and support, presentation skills and team challenges.

At the end of the course, which will be run by Norfolk Fire Service in partnership with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue, Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the College of West Anglia, students can gain a Prince’s Trust Certificate in Employment, Teamwork and Community skills and an Emergency First Aid Certificate.

The course has received a £5,000 funding boost from Wisbech Town Council, which will be spent on computers for young people to use to work on their CVs and look for jobs.

Steve Lucas, team leader from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We have been successfully running teams in Norfolk and found that many young people from Fenland travelled to King’s Lynn to participate in the team programme, so starting a new team in Wisbech seemed the next logical step.

“The funding we have received from Wisbech Town Council has allowed us to buy essential equipment, not only for the delivery of the programme, researching community projects and finding local employers for work placements, but more importantly helping our team members find employment, training or further education after the course.”

Mayor of Wisbech Councillor Samantha Hoy said: “I am thrilled that Wisbech Town Council are supporting this project.

“As soon as I heard about it I wanted to bring it to council to get their support. I hope the project helps young people in Wisbech realise and achieve their goals.”

The Prince’s Trust helps disadvantaged young people, who in many cases are in or leaving care, homeless or battling mental health issues, get their lives on track.

You can start applying for the free course (which does not affect Job Seeker’s Allowance) at the beginning of April, with the course starting on May 19.

It is open to anyone aged between 16-25 not in education, employment or training.

For more information please contact Steve Lucas on 07919 492316, Steve.lucas@fire.norfolk.gov.uk or Princes.trust@fire.norfolk.gov.uk