A TEENAGER who helped establish Helensburgh’s Young Firefighters unit has spoken to young people from across Europe about her experience.

Elli Dillon, 17, was selected as one of just three teenagers in the country who attended the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services’ youth symposium in Budapest, Hungary, last month.

Elli, who is currently a watch manager in the Young Firefighters (YFF) unit in Dumbarton, has continued to volunteer with the Helensburgh unit since helping to set up the team last summer.

She was nominated to take part by Dumbarton YFF leader Allan Young – who says Elli’s transformation in confidence over the years made her the perfect choice.

Allan said: “Elli’s our most senior young firefighter. She’s been through a long journey.

“When she started she was really quiet, and she’s really developed as a young person. She’s become a great team worker.

“The young people at the symposium were having to communicate with each other a lot through Google Translate.

“They also had to do a presentation - they had to get up and just wing it. They did well.

“Elli got up and talked about what she enjoyed about her time with the unit. I was really proud.”

Elli said she was “very pleased” to be selected for the symposium.

“I was a bit apprehensive as I didn’t know everything that the symposium entailed,” she said.

“I’m not the most confident of people, therefore when I was told I would have to help carry out the presentation I was rather nervous.

“Although I did feel sick I pushed myself to do it and I’m glad I did so.

“Young Firefighters has benefited me in so many ways. When I first joined I was as quiet as anything, but due to the different activities my confidence has grown massively.

“I would encourage anyone to start cadets as I feel it is extremely beneficial.”

And with Elli due to turn 18 in just a few weeks’ time, she is embarking on a new era within her YFF unit, having been selected to become an instructor.

“The biggest thing I can say about Elli is that we’ve decided to keep her as an instructor - that’s testament to how good she is,” Allan added. “She’s fantastic.”

The Helensburgh YFF unit, like others across the country, teaches its members important life skills beyond how to fight fires, with drills, discipline and teamwork featuring heavily in their activities.

Find out more about what the group’s been doing by searching for ‘Young Firefighters Helensburgh’ on Facebook.