Lee Peters has served with the service for 16 years, serving at Cefn Fforest and Maindee fire stations; he has always enjoyed the application of front line fire fighting. He has been a member of the fire setting Intervention team since 2009 when he achieved his Btec in Fire setting Intervention Skills. He values being a positive role model and really enjoys the interaction with young people. He also works for the Service Phoenix Project for young people at risk of offending. Other than fire fighting his qualifications are in youth work - up to level 3 - he has found this very useful for communicating with young people. His interests are Aston Villa football club and keeping fit. Since working for Community Safety youth projects Lee has attended several other pieces of training like domestic abuse awareness and substance misuse awareness.

Jayne Smith has worked for SWFRS since 2002 in the kitchen at HQ.   Jayne fancied trying something new which would utilise her skills and knowledge in an area she had acquired in her life outside the Fire Service kitchen, so she applied for FIS Practitioner and was successful.  She has since achieved her BTEC in Fire setter Interventions and is another team member trained to facilitate Restorative Justice Practices.  She enjoys working within the communities of South Wales where her career in developing services for young people started while raising a large family of her own (6 children!) on a big council estate in Cardiff.  Jayne is also a qualified Health and Safety representative for the Service.

Ashley Collins has worked for SWFRS since 1997, based at Bargoed, Merthyr and Abertillery.  He is currently Watch Manager in Community Safety Department (Home Safety).  He also worked for Clybiau Plant Cymru (Kids Club Wales) as the main support worker for Blaenau Gwent.  This involved helping the After School Clubs with funding issues, club set ups and organising activities for the children.  He has worked on various community projects in the disadvantaged communities of our Service area including some on the Gurnos Estate.  This involved engaging children in alternative activities and mentoring them with life skills.  Having lived there for 18 years he feels he can relate to many of the issues the children face, which helped to establish mutual respect.  He is a qualified Bomb Disposal Engineer with 6 years service and has worked for the American Government In Tennessee and Kentucky as part of an Explosive's Team.

Keir Ennis has worked for SWFRS since 2005 as a firefighter in Bargoed fire station.  Before joining the Fire Service Keir worked as a Playscheme Worker for Blaenau Gwent C.B.C.  where he worked on a one-to-one basis with young people with various mental and physical disabilities.  He has been a Young Firefighter instructor since 2006 in Methyr Tydfil fire station.  He also works on a part time basis as a Youth Worker in Fochriw Youth Centre where he has gained an NVQ in Youth and Community work.  He also works for Bargoed YMCA on a, sessional basis, for a project called ‘Your Way’ which involves arranging activities for children and young people whose parents have been involved in domestic and substance abuse.  Since joining the Firesetting Intervention Scheme he has gained a BTEC in Firesetting Intervention.

Sue Lawrence has worked for SWFRS as Accountancy Assistant in the Finance Department since Feb 2003.  More by accident than choice moved into full time work in finance back in 1979 whilst working for Baxter Healthcare, with similar positions working for Blackburn, Carlisle and Warwickshire Councils prior to SWFRS.  Because of a keen interest in outdoor activities, she took on a voluntary role as expedition trainer for young people working for their Duke of Edinburgh awards, leading onto training and qualifying as a part time youth and community worker in Lancashire.

So when a part time FIS practitioner post came up it was a good opportunity to utilise the experience gained working with young people.  She has since completed the BTEC in Fire setter Intervention and is keen to assist young people to work through their difficulties and start to take a more valued place in society.

Mark Stevens has been an operational fire fighter since 1999 and is currently based at Malpas Station.  On joining SWF&RS Mark became immediately aware of how well firefighters are received by the public and realised he was in an ideal position to impart help and advice to individuals, especially youngsters.

Mark saw joining the FIS team as an opportunity to use some of the skills that he acquired prior to joining the service and draw on his experience of dealing with challenging behaviour.  He also has been trained in Restorative Justice Practices.

Laura Thomas is the Scheme Manager.  She has been with SWF&RS in the Community Safety Department for almost 5 years.  Prior to that she worked in the Youth Justice field for 4 years as Youth Justice Worker and a Support Worker for people leaving prison and becoming homeless.  Before that she taught English to children abroad.  Laura is one of the team members trained in Restorative Justice practices and has the BTEC in Fire setter Intervention.  She has a Bsc Hons in Psychology and a Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling.  She is a strong advocate of children’s and young peoples right to a safe, happy and fruitful life.