Soccer stars back fire service campaign

EVERTON Football Club stars are backing a campaign to get Warrington people to volunteer with their local fire service.
Phil Jagielka, Everton and England defender who is based in Cheshire, and team-mate Leighton Baines are supporting the campaign to encourage volunteers to work with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Safety Team.
More than 280 volunteers from the county currently work with the service and more are being encouraged to join.
Phil said: “Everyone knows that the Cheshire Fire Service plays an essential role in the local community and I would think that it’s very rewarding to be a part of it.
“If anybody is thinking of being a volunteer then I would urge them to do it – even if it’s just for a few hours a week or a few days a month. You’ll be contributing a great deal to the safety and welfare of your own local community, which is great.”
Mark Burrage, from the service, said: “Volunteer activities are ideal for people from all walks of life and include carrying out home safety assessments, acting out role plays of accidents, and youth work with The Prince’s Trust.
Volunteers will be working out of their local fire station.”
Volunteering activities include giving safety advice within the home and fitting free smoke detectors, road safety, heritage work – showing and maintaining vintage fire engines – and assisting people affected by national incidents or floods.
There are also opportunities in youth work including supporting staff delivering activities, acting as a youth mentor and working on drama and dance projects to deliver fire safety messages.
Anyone interested in finding out more should call 0800 389 00 53 or visit www.cheshirefire.gov.uk
Picture shows volunteer co-ordinator Mark Burrage and Watch Manager Ian Dunbar, with Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines from Everton FC.