Fire Service
Charles, Year 13
"At Gordonstoun service is a part of my everyday life. I am a qualified volunteer Firefighter for Grampian Fire and Rescue Service. This is a service which requires major commitment and provides an efficient service for the local community. With a newly refurbished Station and two appliances, we are an effective unit in the Moray area. Becoming a qualified Firefighter involves an intense training course of two terms and then a practical and theory test at the end of training. Training involves learning about hoses, ladders, pumping water, what to do in the fire situation and going through the procedure of a call-out. Once you have passed your examination, you are given a Brigade number and are on call. Being on call involves carrying a pager which will alert you of a fire. This involves being available 24 hours a day for seven days a week. You may be called at any time during the day or night. There are three watches within the service and each will do a week on call.
There are many situations that the Fire Service has to deal with. They can be fires, road accidents, flooding and many more. In the coastal situation of School we deal with a substantial number of gorse, grass and woodland fires. We also take part in local events such as Galas and Open Days, providing displays and information about the service. This year I have been given the responsibility of being Captain of the Fire Service. This is an important role as I provide a link between Firefighters and the Sub Officer, Mr Devey. I have a number of duties to fulfil. These include being constantly on pager, calling of parade, overseeing, cleaning and regular checks of the appliance and Station. The Fire Service is a great experience. It gives you a chance to work with many different people in a team and feel like you are providing a service which is greatly appreciated by the local community."
Community Service
Abigail, Year 13
"I have been a member of the Community Service for the past two years. We meet weekly to take part in a chosen activity, ranging from working with younger children, charity shop work and talking to the elderly, to working and riding with the disabled. There are also opportunities to work with young carers, whose parents or younger brothers/sisters are ill/disabled and they come to be with us for a break. We also receive autistic training in the Son-Rise programme with an autistic boy in his home.
Community is the biggest service in the School and continues to expand each year. This year Community Dance has been introduced and is a great success.
As Captain, I am involved in recruiting new members, organising events such as the Christmas Party for around 150 local children and generally being around if people need to ask questions.
We go out all round the community every week and in the past two years I have visited an old peoples home where I built up a relationship with one of the old women; helped out at a 2-3 year old group and am currently working at the local primary school as a teacher's assistant.
The work we do is extremely rewarding and I know that all the people I have helped, have found it extremely useful. The service as a whole is constantly being told how valued it is and, although it may not seem as glamorous as some of the other Services, we work hard every week, slowly making a difference.
Mountain Rescue
Daniel, Year 13
"I'm Captain of the School's Mountain Rescue team and I oversee the running of the service.
The Gordonstoun MR team meet every Wednesday afternoon and take part in an active and fulfilling variety of exercises. When you join the MR team you immediately learn key skills such as navigation, first aid, stretcher work and climbing techniques as part of the training group. At the end of the year you take an assessment and, if you pass, you move into the advanced group where more advance skills are practiced. Winter skills are also practiced in the Scottish hills and climbing techniques are preformed down at Cummingston, our local crag.
Even though Gordonstoun's MR Team doesn't have any active call outs, the staff are very committed and run a variety of one-day and weekend excursions throughout the year into the hills to practice techniques. Twice a year there is an opportunity to 'body' for SARDA (Search and Rescue Dogs Association) which is a worthwhile and active service. Once a year the MR service provide a water and first aid post for the Highland Cross on the West Coast and support for the Cairngorm MR Team charity walk event. In School we also run climbing sessions for visiting groups and schools.
It is my aim to see that everyone enjoys their time in MR and take part as much as possible."