A Glossop firefighter has helped a group of 13 fire cadets challenge themselves by completing a six-day sailing trip with The Cirdan Sailing Trust.  

Jolene O’Sullivan volunteered her time to support the Derbyshire cadets as they were given the opportunity to learn valuable and transferable life skills and build camaraderie with their crewmates during the trip. 

Split into watches for the duration of the voyage they were given various tasks to keep the boat running 24 hours a day such as anchor watch, meal preparation and swabbing the deck.   

Firefighter O’Sullivan said: “The teamwork displayed by the cadets was outstanding, as with sailing it's a team effort and many hands are needed to complete the tasks on deck.  

“It was amazing to see the cadets grow in confidence from the first day to the last, taking control, making decisions, and leading each other so much so that the last day the cadets ran the boat on the way home!" 

Jolene O’Sullivan

She said: “The skills they learnt will be with them forever and the memory of this once in a lifetime trip will never be forgotten by the cadets and me.”  

DFRS Youth Officer Dominic Wardle led the cadets on their sailing adventure supported by Inclusion and Youth Station Manager Mick Wyldbore-Wood and Firefighter Jolene O’Sullivan. 

At the end of the trip, the cadets were all presented with official Royal Yachting Association (RYA) qualifications.  

Derbyshire Fire Cadets is a two-year programme which provides young people with an insight into working within the fire service and an opportunity to develop transferable, practical skills for future training or employment.  

For more information visit https://www.derbys-fire.gov.uk/community/young-people/derbyshire-fire-cadets

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