Festival of Rescue 2026: Fire Cadets Casualty Care Challenge
Hosted by Essex County Fire & Rescue Service
Fire Cadets Casualty Care Challenge 2026 in association with NFCC UK Fire Cadets supported by LIVES
This challenge takes place on Saturday 12 September 2026
This is the fifth year that UKRO are running a cadets challenge in association with UKFC. LIVES are joining us for a third year providing the assessors for the competition.
This year the event has been expanded to include up to 12 teams from across the UK.
The emphasis for the challenge is on developing a young person’s life skills, as well as demonstrating their amazing ability to provide first aid care should they ever find themselves in a situation that requires it. The ethos of the event is not merely to win the event. It is more about improving confidence and self-belief in order that they are better able to make positive decisions, engage within their communities and grow into productive young adults.
I am delighted to support our Fire Cadets being an integral part of the UKRO National event again this year which is being hosted by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. Fire Cadets showcase how our young people have a significant contribution to the safety of our communities and the event challenge will be a great opportunity to see our fantastic Cadets in action, demonstrating their skills and knowledge they have developed as part of their Cadet programme and focusing on their casualty care skills.
Fire Cadets is a National Fire Chief Council (NFCC) supported uniformed youth group committed to developing young people from ages 13-17 in life skills, teamwork, and knowledge that reflects the Fire Service’s key objectives.
The aim of the Challenge is to bring together teams of young people from across the country to participate in a national event which, not only displays their casualty care abilities, but also develops their confidence and personal development by representing their Fire Service in a competitive event. The specific areas that the Fire Cadets will be demonstrating within casualty care are safety, communication skills, casualty care and how they use their equipment.
I am enormously proud to see the growing partnership between Fire Cadets and UKRO. UKRO values the development of young people within our communities and recognises the significant contribution they have in keeping our communities safer.
Good luck to all our teams
Mark Baxter
NFCC Lead for Children and Young People & UKRO Deputy Chair and Trustee
Information for Challengers and Volunteers
Thank you for sending your expressions of interest to UK Fire Cadets. Expressions of Interest closed on 3rd July 2026. Bookings for Fire Cadet Teams selected will be available here between 6th – 17th July 2026.
See the venue page for the details of the location of the event.
Challenge documents coming soon!
The Challenge Handbook, Competitors Safety Brief, Volunteer Safety Brief Cadet Casualty Care Assessor, Pre Scenarios Checklist and Risk Assessment will be available soon.