SERC Uniformed Protective Services

A few of the friendly faces you’ll meet at our ‘Come & Try Days’ for women!

There are more sessions taking place this weekend across Belfast, Armagh and Omagh – so if you’re interested in becoming a Wholetime Firefighter and haven’t signed up yet here’s your chance.

Session details:
Saturday 13 June
📍Central Fire Station (Belfast): 10am - 12.30pm or 2pm - 4.30pm
📍Armagh Fire Station: 10am - 12.30pm or
2pm - 4.30pm

Sunday 14 June
📍Omagh Fire Station: 10am - 12.30pm or 2pm - 4.30pm

Events are free to attend but ticketed so make sure you register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/68701728113

On Saturday 6th June, 152 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps will host an Army Reserves Open Day at Palace Barracks. This will take place from 9am until 3pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and find out about part time opportunities available within the local area in the British Army. To book, scan the QR code in the advert and let them know you plan on attending.

First year students recently completed a litter pick throughout Castle Park as part of a leadership activity. The students worked together, spending several hours covering the vast area and making a positive difference to the local community.

Thanks to Royal Air Force who recently visited to carry out team leadership tasks with first year students. The students participated in command tasks and learnt about communication skills.

Thanks to The Army in Northern Ireland for having us today at Palace Barracks for the inter college Uniformed Protective Services Games. Congratulations to our end of year winners of the RAF Cup and Royal Navy Shield, Charlotte Sittlington and Oliver Martin.

Well done to the first years who competed at Bangor by the Sea Sea Bangor Cup Rowing Race on Saturday and Sunday at Bangor harbour. 2 teams competed over the weekend against other particpants from Full Circle, Ballyholme Beach Football Club, Bangor Sea Cadets, Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and HMS Hibernia.

On Saturday a team consisting of Joao Fisher, Timothy Gouk, Cody Adair and Finlay Stothers took to the water.
On sunday Oliver Martin, Joao Fisher, Casia Galea and Irwin Pryce participated.

Thanks to 1st years who volunteered at Balmoral Show on Friday for Cancer Focus Northern Ireland. The students carried out bucket collections and helped out at an interactive play area for children. This was at the Northstone Materials stand, who are a proud supporter of the charity. 🐸

Thanks to Volunteer Now for visiting today to talk with the students and oversee some mobile volunteering. The first years met with Volunteering Support Officer, Jamie Greer who spoke about the work of Volunteer Now. The students then completed an activity, preparing post bags for Oxfam which will be distributed to households who request a donation pack. They managed to pack an impressive total of 600 of these. Jamie then presented Impact Award Certificates to the first years who have completed an extensive amount of volunteering over the past year.

SERC Uniformed Protective Services Students Take Over Bangor and Raise over £1500 For Cancer Focus NI.

Throughout the first week of March, Btec L3 Uniformed Protective Services students helped fundraise for Cancer Focus Northern Ireland as part of the charity’s “Bangor Teal Takeover”. The charity chose Bangor as a location to focus fundraising efforts in the first week of spring with local businesses carrying out collections throughout the city.

With extensive experience in fundraising for Cancer Focus, the Uniformed Protective Services students wanted to get involved when they heard about the initiative. Last May, five students from the current second year class completed Belfast City Marathon in a relay team, raising an impressive £918 for the charity. Later that month three current second year students volunteered for Cancer Focus at Balmoral Show. In September, six first year students gave up their Saturday to carry out bucket collections and hand out water to runners at the Bangor 10K. More recently, seven 1st year students carried out bucket collections throughout Belfast City Centre on the Friday before Christmas as part of the annual “Big Christmas Bucket Collection.” Two students also carried out several a bucket collections on Saturdays with their tutor.

With the Bangor takeover underway, on Wednesday 4th March, sixteen first year students carried out a bucket collection throughout Asda, Main Street from 11am until 4pm. The high viz clad students worked in teams, talking to customers about the work of the charity whilst raising vital funds. The total raised by the students on that day was an incredible £847.33.

On Friday 6th March, fourteen students from both first and second year completed a Spinathon at the Cancer Focus store, Main Street. The students, accompanied by their tutor and a fellow student from their course dressed as Genevieve the Goat (the charity mascot) kept 2 spin bikes rotating simultaneously from 9am until 3.30pm. This exhausting feat was performed under a gazebo in front of the store with loud music and supporters creating a great vibe throughout the city centre. Each student completed an exhausting 45 minute cycle, with the total raised by students on the day reaching £655.84.

Casia Galea, 1st year UPS student said, “Cancer Focus is such an important cause and being able to help support their work has been enjoyable. I’ve made a difference to peoples’ lives while developing skills and trying new things.”

Irwin Pryce, L3 UPS Lecturer said “having introduced the students to volunteering for the charity and guiding them through activities, I’m extremely proud of them and am delighted to see them having fun whilst making a positive difference. I’m also very grateful to the local community of Bangor who have donated over £1500 to the students over two days.”

The grand total for the students’ efforts on both the Wednesday and Friday was £1503.17. This will go a long way in helping the charity to continue supporting those affected by cancer in Northern Ireland.

Thanks to Gillian for visiting today to speak with students about her fascinating career working in Disaster Victim Recovery. The students learnt about the work involved following disasters such as Lockerbie air disaster and Thailand Tsunami among many others.