Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey met young people taking part in a major local youth development programme last week- the first scheme of its kind to be jointly run by the police and fire services anywhere in the UK.

The Prince’s Trust Team Programme is being delivered by South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue and South Yorkshire Police from Dearne fire station.

Team Programme is a 12 week personal course for unemployed 16 to 25 year olds, offering work experience, qualifications, practical training and a residential development week.

The programme also gets young people to nominate their own community project, with those on the current scheme choosing to transform the centre of Swinton- fixing benches, clearing graffiti, picking litter and planting trees and flowers.

John Healey MP said: “Young people are the future of this area and it is fantastic that both fire and police are working together to transform not only the lives of those on this programme, but also the places where they live.”

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Team Leader John Daley said: “Team Programme is about more than simply boosting young people’s employment skills. It gives them hope, confidence and the opportunity to make a difference. The community project the young people are involved in this week is the perfect proof of that aspiration and we hope the sense of achievement it gives them will give them the self-belief which they can transfer to their future lives.”

A second Team Programme is also running currently from Barnsley fire station.