£1.5 million investment boost for Fire Cadets

Over half a million of new government funding is being invested in the UK Fire Cadets.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has secured a £532,333.40 grant from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This funding comes as part of the government’s £7.5 million Uniformed Youth Fund.

What does this funding aim to do?

The funding aims to significantly expand the reach and impact of the UK Fire Cadets programme. The government hopes this will create transformative opportunities for hundreds of young people aged 13–18. Through structured, skill-building activities, the aim is that participants will develop confidence, leadership, and a strong sense of civic responsibility. The government believes this will empower the young people to make meaningful contributions within their communities. 

This investment forms part of the government’s wider Building Creative Futures package. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, unveiled this package in an effort to reconnect young people with real-world experiences. He believes it will help them to tackle the growing challenges of isolation and digital overexposure.   

Specific strategic objectives of the funding include:

• Increasing capacity in areas of unmet demand, particularly 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
  • Ethnically diverse communities

The government strives to generally improve wellbeing and develop essential life and work skills for young people.  

How will Fire and Rescue Services use the grant?

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 the DfE hopes will result in:   

• The creation of 343 new Fire Cadet places for young people across England, and support to recruit 100 new Fire Cadet lead volunteers.  
• Support for existing units through replacement of end-of-life equipment, uniform and PPE, particularly in areas of deprivation (IMD 1–5).  
• 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 service.  

What has been the response to this proposal?

Phil Garrigan, chair of the NFCC, describes the grant as “vital investment” that will enable the programme to reach “underrepresented and underserved communities” and provide opportunities that go beyond technical training. He claims it focuses on “shaping futures, fostering resilience, and inspiring the next generation to make a difference.”

Similarly, Dan Moss, NFCC project executive for the Uniformed Youth Fund, calls the funding a “transformative opportunity” that ensures facilities are “accessible to more young people across England.” For him, it supports the creation of “safe, inclusive, and high-quality environments” where cadets can develop confidence and leadership skills.

The grant will support the development of new Fire Cadet units in Cheshire, Cumbria, Essex County, Greater Manchester, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Humberside, Kent, Lincolnshire, London, Merseyside, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Tyne & Wear, and East Sussex. Existing Fire Cadet Units receiving bursary support will include Bedfordshire, Derbyshire, Hereford & Worcester, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire, Royal Berkshire, and West Sussex.  

The funding will also support eight female Fire Cadets who have been selected to join the new Fire Angel Leadership Foundation Programme to take part in UK-based training before an expedition to Sweden in February 2026.

Georgina Gilbert, co-founder of the Fire Angel Leadership Foundation Programme, reinforces this theme by highlighting that “leadership isn’t about standing in-front, it’s about bringing others with you.”

“Sweden is where we did much of our own polar training, and we know first-hand how transformative it can be.” She frames the Fire Angel Leadership Foundation Programme as “a journey of self-discovery” that builds “self-esteem, confidence, and the quiet resilience that stays with you for life.”

Together, these perspectives emphasize that the investment is not only expanding reach but also shaping future leaders and strengthening communities.