Last week, Atlantic Pacific has partnered up with LDE UTC in Newham and Royal Docks to bring a taster session to local young people living in Newham. During this week, the students have been introduced to and taught many important aspects of Atlantic Pacific's work. "It was really fun, we learned so many new skills and they aren't skills you can only use on the water, you can use them in everyday life too." said one of the participants afterwards. Over the week, students learned how to operate a Rigid-hulled Inflatable Boat in very windy conditions at Royal Docks with a basic introduction to search and rescue boat skills. Our medical team taught the students our casualty care check card systems and how to respond to someone in a medical emergency. Students also experienced an introduction into psychological first aid and had discussions around some of the pressing issues of our time including climate change, ocean pollution, global drowning alongside disaster response, with a focus on Japan's 2011 Tsunami. All of the students had a great time and learned a lot, one saying that Atlantic Pacific instructors "made the hardest stuff look so much easier than they are and it was so much easier to understand." We hope to have given these young people an opportunity they could not have had previously and encourage them to think about training in one or more of these core skills. Some are even considering joining us now:" I'm definitely joining after I graduate from UTC and I would advise other people to come here and see what they can do." AP plans to open a new training facility in Royal Docks to enable more young people to learn these core skills and offer an opportunity for career paths into emergency response. A UTC student loves the idea: "In an area like this, there is a lack of opportunity. The AP building would allow such an opportunity for a new demographic." Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for more information on the new centre and ways in which you can sign up to get involved.
