Government funding boost emboldens Fire Cadets Programme

The new funding is set to significantly expand the reach and impact of the UK Fire Cadets Programme, creating “transformative opportunities” for hundreds of young people aged between 13 and 18. Through structured skill-building activities, participants will develop confidence, leadership and a strong sense of civic responsibility, thereby empowering them to make meaningful contributions within their communities.

This investment forms part of the Government’s wider Building Creative Futures package, unveiled by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which aims to reconnect young people with real-world experiences and tackle the growing challenges of isolation and digital overexposure.

Specific strategic objectives of the funding include increasing capacity in areas of unmet demand, particularly so Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 1-5 and Youth Investment Fund areas, engaging harder-to-reach groups (including young people with SEND, those eligible for free school meals, young carers, looked-after children and ethnically diverse communities) and generally improving well-being for young people.

Fire and Rescue Services from across England were invited to apply for a mix of start-up awards and bursary funds through a formal grant application, which will result in:   

*the creation of 343 new Fire Cadet places for young people across England and support for recruiting 100 new Fire Cadet lead volunteers.  

*support for existing units through the replacement of end-of-life equipment, uniform and PPE, with a keen focus on IMD areas  

*funding to deliver accredited training including the Level 2 NFCC Introduction to Working with Children and Young People and a new Fire Cadet Leaders course  

*enhancement of digital resources via the StayWise fire safety education platform, shaped by the UK Fire Cadet Voice Forum  

*continued partnership with the Fire Angel Leadership Foundation Programme, empowering female cadets to become future leaders in the Fire and Rescue Service

Meaningful opportunities  

Phil Garrigan, chair of the NFCC, said: “We are proud to have secured this vital investment for the UK Fire Cadets Programme. This funding will allow us to reach more young people, particularly those from underrepresented and underserved communities, and offer them meaningful opportunities to build their confidence, develop valuable skills and connect with their communities in powerful ways. The Fire Cadets Programme is about more than just skills. It’s about shaping futures, fostering resilience and inspiring the next generation to make a difference.”

Dan Moss, the NFCC’s project executive for the Uniformed Youth Fund, explained: “This funding is a transformative opportunity for the Fire Cadets Programme, ensuring that our facilities are accessible to more young people across England. It supports our mission to provide safe, inclusive and high-quality environments where cadets can develop life skills, confidence and leadership o help build a stronger and more resilient future generation that thrives. I’m so proud to be part of what is a national movement that puts youth empowerment at its heart.”  

The grant will support the development of new Fire Cadet Units in Cheshire, Cumbria, Essex County, Greater Manchester, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Humberside, Kent, Lincolnshire, London, Merseyside, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Tyne and Wear and East Sussex.

Existing Fire Cadet Units receiving bursary support will include Bedfordshire, Derbyshire, Hereford and Worcester, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire, Royal Berkshire and West Sussex.

The funding will also support eight female Fire Cadets who’ve been selected to join the new Fire Angel Leadership Foundation Programme and take part in UK-based training before an expedition to Sweden in February 2026. The overall objective of the Leadership Foundation Programme is to encourage the development and empowerment of more future female leaders in the Fire and Rescue sector. 

Courage and teamwork

Georgina Gilbert, co-founder of the Fire Angel Leadership Foundation Programme, commented: “Leadership isn’t about standing in front. It’s about bringing others with you. For us, it has always been about courage, teamwork and self-belief in the toughest environments, whether that’s on the ice on Antarctica or closer to home as firefighters.”  

Gilbert added: “These eight inspiring Fire Cadets are about to experience something really special: the chance to lead, deal with setbacks and try again, to support one another and to find their own inner strength. Learning to lead in challenging environments builds more than skills. It builds self-esteem, confidence and the quiet resilience that remains with you for life.”

Further, Gilbert observed: “Sweden is where we did much of our own polar training. We know first-hand how transformative it can be. This is more than just an experience. Rather, it’s a journey of self-discovery that will shape who these young people become as leaders and as individuals.”

Gilbert concluded: “We would like to thank the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for recognising the importance of giving young people these opportunities so that they can challenge themselves to grow and to realise their full capabilities.”