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Swalwell Community Fire Station

Swalwell Community Fire Station
Swalwell Community Fire Station

Our Station

Built in 2004/05, Swalwell Community Fire Station  is located on Miller Lane, Swalwell on the western extreme of the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council area. It covers several Council Wards; Crawcrook, Greenside, Ryton, Rowlands Gill, Winlaton, Blaydon, Dunston, Swalwell and Whickham. 

 The staff are the main asset and, in addition to responding to emergencies, undertake a range of Community Safety (CS) activities that are primarily aimed at preventing fires and deaths and injuries in fires. 

The station includes a Community Safety Centre which houses the Community Team, Centre Administrator, Young Fire-fighters Association (YFA) and Gateshead Council Community Team. A further police presence in a local beat office is also contained within the Community Safety Centre making the station a ‘one stop shop’ for all the community’s safety and security needs. 

The Community Safety Centre also boasts a 200 seat auditorium which has modern IT presentation capabilities, a meeting room and a computer suite, including access to the Internet, for further educational learning. This entire facility, which has been designed to be fully accessible and hence, enable usage by all of our visitors,is integrated within a fully functional fire station.

The Area

The geographical area served by Swalwell Community Fire Station, varies greatly from relatively affluent residential to light and heavy industrial. It also includes one of Britain’s largest out-of-town shopping complexes, the Metro Centre in addition to relatively large tracts of rural land. 

The population, based on the 2001 Census, is 66,573 persons who are predominantly from Anglo-Saxon background with a relatively small ethnic group (0.59%). There are 27,693 dwellings within the Station area with approximately: - 

  • 60% Owner Occupied

  • 30% Local Authority Rented

  • 5.0% Privately Rented

  • 5.0% Housing Association Rented
     

Single parent families occupy 3.5% of dwelling, with 16.1% single pensioner households.  

Levels of unemployment across this area vary from 18.8% to 7.1% for males and 7.6% to 3.7% for females. These figures reflect the socio-economic groups residing within individual neighbourhoods which can be linked to the risk of dwelling fires occurring within the area. This is illustrated in the above map where the red indicates areas where the risk of having a dwelling fire is well above average, orange is above average, yellow is average, blue is below average and green is well below average. 

Young Firefighter Association - hose 1
Young Firefighters

In September 1992, Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Fire Service, in partnership with the Newcastle City Challenge, opened its first branch of the Young Firefighters Association at the West Road Fire Station.  The primary strategic objective was to strengthen the social and community infrastructure, which after the inner city disturbance had become a little fragile. 

Young people who were accepted into the organisation came from a wide and varied background. Those who were at risk of offending, non-attendees at school, as well as those who academically were doing well and who were expected to progress into further education. This fine balance of character and personality helped to set the foundations of a successful Branch.

What We Offer

During the meetings the Young Firefighters are given practical and theoretical instructions on Fire Service related subjects. The training is of a comparable standard to that of operational firefighters taking into account age, height and weight differences. 

In addition to the weekly meetings, Young Firefighters are also involved in:

  • attending Fire Service ceremonial occasions

  • displaying their skills on open days and summer fairs, attending drill comps.

  • High Sheriff award scheme

  • public relations in the community

  • National and International Camps (Croatia, Finland, Holland, France)

 

Young Firefighter Association - Young Firefighter
A group of Young Firefighters carrying out an activity.

Aims and Objectives

  •  To enable young people aged between 13 and 17 to join a uniformed organisation associated with the Fire Service.

  • To aid personal development mentally, physically and socially.

  • To help develop leadership qualities and the ability to try new experiences.

  • To help develop team skills with mutual support.

Contact Us

Address 

Swalwell Community Fire Station
Market Lane
Swalwell
Gateshead
Tyne and Wear
NE16 3DZ

 

Telephone 

+44 (0)191 444 1430

  

E-Mail 

swalwell@twfire.gov.uk

 

Home Risk Assessment
Home Safety Check

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service is committed to achieving it's Vision of 'Creating the Safest Community' by reducing the risk of fire in domestic premises through Home Safety Checks.  

Firefighters can visit your home, where you may be at the greatest risk from fire, and offer simple advice on Fire Safety, tailored specifically to your needs. We can also, where necessary fit free smoke detectors, and in certain cases, provide a deep fat fryer to replace a conventional chip pan. 

We are currently targeting our resources those households most at risk, but will attend to you as soon as possible if you request this service. 

Follow the link for further information on the assessment process and how to request a Home Safety Check.