Over 50,000 Scouts now have their Fire Safety Badge

Scouts who have attended one of the many demonstration days have had the chance to tackle a live fire with a fire extinguisher and fire blankets

It is difficult to believe that it has been almost five years since The Scout Association and Chubb Fire joined forces to re-launch the Fire Safety Badge.  And what a success it has been.

50,000 Scouts have achieved their Fire Safety Badge

Since the start of the initiative in November 2003, over 50,000 Scouts have been awarded the coveted badge – which means 50,000 youngsters have an effective escape plan in place for their homes should an accident occur. Many more have taken part in the extremely popular live fire demonstrations up and down the country, or entered one of three national competitions.

Part of the sponsorship included providing new educational literature and posters sent out to more than 7,200 local Scout Groups, as well as many individual talks and presentations from Chubb Fire’s Training Officers

Chubb Wins Community Fire Safety Award

Perhaps most impressive of all, the relationship was recognised in 2005 with a highly prestigious Fire industry award at the annual Fire Expo exhibition and conference, picking up the top prize in the Community Fire Safety Award (Civilian) category.

“Our objectives in re-launching the Fire Safety Badge was to increase the awareness of fire safety issues amongst young people,” explains Suzanne Donovan, Chubb Fire’s Director of Communications, “and with nearly 50,000 new badges awarded, we have a very tangible record of this objective being met. We take our corporate responsibility very seriously, and it is extremely rewarding for us to know that because of our sponsorship, and our commitment to the badge, we may ultimately save lives.”

Nationwide Competitions

Each year of the sponsorship, Chubb Fire organised a nationwide competition that all Scout groups could enter, but always with a Fire Safety theme. The first was to design a poster that gave the five top tips for fire prevention in the home. £1000 in prize money was given out to the winners and runners up to spend on a group adventure.

This was followed the year after with a Christmas Art competition and the winning design was used as Chubb Fire’s Christmas card that was sent out to all of its customers. In 2006, the competition again turned to the concept of poster designs, but this time the idea of staying safe on Bonfire night.  The winners were the 62nd Doncaster Scout Group who received £400, runners up were the 1st Threemilestone Scout Group in Truro who received a cheque for £100. The prize money was spent on a group outdoor activity. 

For 2007 Scout Groups were asked to design a Christmas card on “Festive fun on a theme of fire safety”. The winning Group was 4th Ashford (Middlesex) which won £500. The prize money is to be put towards an activity week in the Brecon Beacons and an activity day at High Ashurst Outdoor Education Centre in Boxhill, Surrey, for the whole Scout Group. The runners up were 1st Rogerstone (Newport) and 1st Markethill (Armagh) who won £300 and £200 respectively.

Live Fire Demonstrations

Probably the highlight for young people, and certainly the events that attracted the most media attention, were the live fire demonstrations. These took place – quite literally – the length and breadth of the country from Aberdeen to Truro, often involving the local Fire Brigades and – in the case of Manchester – the City’s mayor! Since part of the Badge requires Scouts to understand how to use fire blankets and extinguishers, the demonstrations provided them with hands-on experience of the very hottest kind!

If the highlight for the youngsters were the live demonstrations, then the highlight for Chubb Fire was probably the external recognition we received from industry in picking up the Community Fire Safety Award (Civilian). The judges praised the Fire Safety Badge campaign for the way that it had got through to so many young people, and how through their efforts they might save lives in the future.

There is little doubt that the Chubb Fire-sponsored Fire Safety Badge has had a significant impact on raising the awareness of fire safety amongst the country’s youngsters. The facts speak for themselves as Natalie Tomlinson of The Scout Association concludes: “The partnership with Chubb Fire has been a tremendous success,”’ she says. “The Fire Safety Badge is one of the most popular badges undertaken by the Scouts and the excellent resources provided by Chubb Fire has undoubtedly been a contributing factor in this. Between us we have helped thousands of young people see how to stay safe with fire at first hand.”

Fire Safety for Scout Premises

Working alongside our Corporate Account Team, The Scout Association has secured special discounted prices with Chubb Fire, for the annual servicing and supply of fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment based on a nationwide contract.  To take advantage of these special prices, contact our corporate team on 0845 606 1155, quoting The Scout Association, Gilwell Park.