Havant students help firefighters row 100,000 metres for charity as part of scheme to boost confidence

But education bosses say pupils’ attitudes could be set to transform after six weeks spent under the wings of their local fire service heroes.

It comes after youngsters from Warblington School and Hayling College rowed more than 100,000 metres for charity alongside Havant’s firefighters.

The four-hour physical feat on Saturday at Tesco, in Solent Road, was part of the town fire station’s A Better Me programme.

For the past five years it has seen nominated schoolchildren spend six weeks with volunteers at Havant Fire Station who teach them life skills, from cooking healthy meals from scratch to kayaking and fundraising.

Successful graduates of the initiative and parents watched on as its latest recruits were put to the test this morning, raising money for mental health charity Young Minds, as well as the Fire Fighters Charity.

One of them was 13-year-old James Le Geyt, who is in Year 9 at Warblington School.

‘I think I’ve done something like 5,000 metres today – it’s been brilliant to be here and do things we wouldn't normally get to,’ he said.

‘I used to be scared of quite a lot of things, but now because of this I see those things as opportunities, including cooking.

‘We’ve smashed the 100,000m goal and I’m really proud of everyone who has been part of it.’

Naomi Ison, the school's education welfare co-ordinator, said children had so far ‘loved’ this year's programme and were reaping the benefits.

‘One of our students has seen a massive turnaround in poor behaviour, attendance and their parents have said they're much more active now,' she said.

‘Another student who did this previously said if he hadn't he probably wouldn't have had the confidence to get a job and go on to college.

‘The programme really has given students confidence massively over the time it has run.'

Crew manager at Havant Fire Station, Simon Morford, who organised the event, said its positive impact is two-fold.

‘Days like this are really good for the kids' confidence – and ours – and we’ve been fighting to get the kids off the machines,' he joked.

‘Throughout the course we give the children confidence and life skills, and in return, they give us four hours of their time to raise money for a charity of their choice.

‘Today they've seen members of the public who wanted to give their money and time to talk and they have loved it.'

Mr Morford confirmed the effort raised £453, which will be split equally between both good causes.

The A Better Me programme was recently boosted by a £1,000-a-year sponsorship from Havant firm Apollo Fire Detectors, enabling it to run twice yearly.

Havant's firefighters all give up their own time for the scheme and are unpaid.