On Thursday 29 May, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS) proudly launched its new Youth and Community Education van, developed in partnership with Toyota Manufacturing UK.
Funded with the support of a £30,000 grant from the Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust, the vehicle serves as a mobile learning environment equipped with virtual reality (VR) headsets and a 360-degree camera. This setup allows learners to complete practical training in a risk-free environment where they can learn by doing.
The van was proudly unveiled at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston site on Thursday, where Toyota apprentices got the chance to explore the vehicle, experience its immersive tools, and engage with DFRS’s Youth and Community Education team.
Recently rated ‘Good’ in 9 of 11 areas of inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), DFRS is one of the country’s top performing fire and rescue services. Alongside responding to 999 emergency calls, the Service places a strong emphasis on prevention. This includes a wide range of activities aimed at keeping Derbyshire’s diverse communities safe—at home, on the road, and at leisure. The DFRS Youth and Community Education team play a key role in shaping these initiatives, which are delivered in schools, colleges, and at community events, with support from partners like Toyota Manufacturing UK.
Speaking at the launch event, DFRS Area Manager Adam Bleakman highlighted the importance of the new Youth and Community Education van:
“Developed to deliver engaging, interactive road safety education on the move, the new vehicle and its equipment will provide our Youth and Community Education team with better access to communities in hard-to-reach areas and opportunities to reduce the risk of incidents requiring emergency response with a diverse age range.
“The VR headsets provide immersive 3D simulation learning experiences that replicate real-life scenarios and environments. They will be particularly effective in engaging young drivers, as evidence shows this group responds well to VR-based education and it leads to better learning. We’re pleased to have been able to demonstrate the vehicle with Toyota apprentices today – many of whom are new to regular commuting or driving for work purposes.
“The 360-degree camera’s flexibility will also enable us to create new VR scenarios that address additional safety risks, including water safety, deliberate fire-setting, and wildfires.
“We would like to thank our longstanding partners at Toyota Manufacturing UK and the Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust for their investment and continued support. Their contribution is helping us deliver interactive and engaging road safety education across the county.”
Toyota Manufacturing UK Deputy Managing Director Richard Finchett also spoke at the event. He added:
“It is a privilege to be able to support people working in fantastic organisations, doing so much good work and making a difference in the areas around our plants. At Toyota, it is important for us to be able to contribute to our local communities in this way”.
Keep an eye out for Derbyshire Fire & Rescue’s new Youth and Community Education vehicle at community events across the county.
