A programme that gives young people valuable work experience is on the hunt for a new home.
Norfolk Fire and Rescue's Prince's Trust programme, based in Dereham, needs to move out of the town's fire station due to planned works there.
Although it means a planned round of training, which was due to start on January 30, has been postponed, the fire service's head of prevention and protection, Tony White, said he was optimistic a new site would be found.
Mr White said: “In Dereham, we have had to ask the team to relocate: this is linked to previously planned works at Dereham Fire Station, and ensuring that both the Prince’s Trust team and our operational crews have space to work safely and effectively.
"We will be resuming the programme in Dereham shortly with all those who are already booked onto the course."
The 12-week programme is for young people aged between 16 and 25. Those who were signed up to the January course have now got priority for the next course, which starts in May.
Work to upgrade the station was approved in 2021. The Prince’s Trust team knew they would have to move due to the improvements.
No staff are being taken off the Prince’s Trust work, nor will anyone who has a place on the programme have to reapply, and work to look for a new location is already underway.
Chantelle Williams, Norfolk Fire and Rescue's youth development team leader, said she was also hopeful that something can be found.
She said: “We have to relocate to somewhere completely different which will be really sad for our community and young people, but we are not prepared to close down a delivery point and relocate.
“We are determined to find something to keep the program going.”
The programme used to be run from Shipdam Village Hall, until it was given the opportunity to move to the fire station. Prince's Trust courses are also run in Norwich and King's Lynn.
Throughout the programme, participants will be provided with a free residential stay, and work experience, while planning and delivering a community project.
For more information, call 07795 067383 or email fireyouthdev@norfolk.gov.uk
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