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National awards for firefighters

Published	28 May 2008

Men and women leading the way on improving equality and diversity in the Fire and Rescue Service were honoured at a national awards ceremony today.

The examples of good practice set by the award winners help bring more women, ethnic minorities, gay and disabled people into the fire and rescue service by supporting a change of culture across the organisation.

Fire Minister Parmjit Dhanda, presenting the awards, said he was inspired to hear about the inspirational work of the practitioners who were challenging inequality and promoting diversity, adding it was time for these examples to become the norm rather than the exception through the Government's new Equality and Diversity Strategy.

Parmjit Dhanda said:

"It is vital that the Fire and Rescue service better represents the diverse communities it serves and fully harnesses all the potential available to it by providing career opportunities for all.

"These winners are showing how well this can be done. Their work proves that having a Fire and Rescue service that promotes equality and diversity is not an insurmountable task or about political correctness. It's good common sense that's in all of our interests, and it's the right thing to do.

"In future I hope to see more Fire and Rescue Services entering our award scheme as a demonstration of their commitment to equality and diversity."

The Minister set the Service challenging recruitment targets for women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds when he launched the new Equality and Diversity Strategy last week.

All 46 fire and rescue services across the country now have a target to ensure that at least 15 per cent of new firefighting recruits are women and that the number of minority ethnic recruits overall reflects the local working population by 2013. There should also be parity in retention and career progression between men and women and between minority ethnic and white employees.

£2m of Government funding will be available to those that choose a more challenging 18 per cent target for women and a target that reflects the local minority ethnic working population plus 2-5 per cent.

The awards were presented at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London at an event hosted by BBC News and television broadcaster Nicholas Owen. There was also a presentation from the first amputee firefighter in Europe, an award winner from last year. Simon Hawkins from Hereford and Worcester FRS lost the lower part of his left leg following a motorcycle accident in 2004. Simon was fitted with a prosthetic limb and in 2006, and having gone through successful rehabilitation he returned to operational duty.

Forty entries were received for this year's award scheme. The award winners are:

Leadership

Individual winner:

• Michael Feather (Equal Opportunities Learning and Development Co-ordinator, East Sussex FRS);

Runner up:

• Martin Green (Station Manager, Hillingdon Fire Station, London Fire Brigade)

Team winner:

• LGBT Support Group (Stewart Brown, Patrick Carberry, Yannick Dubois, London, Bedfordshire, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Services respectively);

Runners up:

• Asian Fire Service Association (Akwala Deol, Parvinder Singh, Davinder Sodhi and Manjit Singh, London Fire Brigade)
• Lorraine Abrahams (Director of Service Improvement, Avon Fire & Rescue Service)

Service Delivery

Individual winner:

• Chris Caswell ( Watch Manager, Kent FRS)

Runners up:

• Michael Skee (Catering Services Manager, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service)
• Cliff Butterworth (Community Safety Co-ordinator, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service)

Team winners:

• Pamaljit Kaur Sidhu and team (Phoenix Project Co-ordinator, Derbyshire FRS)
• Neil Ashworth and team (Watch Manager, Burnley Fire Station, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service).

Runner up:

• Rebecca Howard (Monitoring and Performance Officer, London Fire Brigade)

Partnership Working

Winner:

• Rex Webb (Relationship Manager, Wiltshire FRS)

Runners up:

• Paul Fuller (Chief Fire Officer, Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and rescue Service) and Tanja Kuveljic (Managing Director, b-live)
• Danny Roberts  (Firefighter, Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service)

Notes to editors

Photos of all the winners and runners up receiving their awards are available on request from Communities and Local Government Press Office 020 7944 4532.

Winner

Michael Feather (Equal Opportunities Learning and Development Co-ordinator, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service)

"We're getting rid of the fear, so firefighters can really be open and say 'I've got a disability, can you give me some help?'"

Award-winner Michael Feather describes the motivation behind a community poster project that became a national success story.

Back in 2006 Michael was keen to produce posters that promoted disability awareness in the fire service, drawing particular attention to disabilities that you can't see from the outside such as dyslexia, diabetes and epilepsy. To kick-start the project he went to Sussex Downs College where students competed to design three winning posters - with work experience in the East Sussex FRS's graphics department part of the prize.

The posters were so successful that Michael sold them to 20 other FRS across the country and used the bulk of the money raised to buy a laptop for an Uckfield care centre with the left over funds helping several East Sussex disability groups.

The Judges said that achieving disability equality in the fire service was one of the hardest battles but this initiative had clear aims to raise awareness, great interaction with the local community and produced real outcomes.

Michael said:

"We wanted to promote disability equality and really create something where people would see the poster and almost change their view of what disability was because you can't always see a disability. It was a circular idea and so many people benefited."

He thanked the Deputy Chief Fire Officer Chris Large, director of Personnel Chris Greenway, Jeff Collins in the graphics department and Sussex Downs students for all their help on the project and dedicated the award to local equality campaigner Chris Paine, who has Down Syndrome.

"I'm overjoyed at getting the award," Michael added.

"Progress has been slow in the past but equality and diversity is starting to embed itself into the mainstream. There's wonderful things going on that aren't getting reported and these awards are bringing these things to the forefront.

"Some people think firefighters go out and put out fires, where's the link with equality? But what if the family didn't speak English or were deaf? With more knowledge and understanding we can provide a better level of service."

Runner up, receiving letter of commendation:

Martin Green (Station Manager, Hillingdon Fire Station, London Fire Brigade)

Breaking down the barriers between the traveller community and the fire service was at the heart of Martin Green's initiative. This well delivered project changed procedures for engagement with this hard-to-reach community creating more positive relationships between them and the fire service. For example, leading to the institution of a tracker system for fire safety checks. It also produced effective cross-service co-operation between the Fire, Police and Ambulance services when it came to addressing the needs of this high-risk group.

Category: Leadership (Team Award)

Winner : Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Support Group (Stewart Brown, London Fire Brigade, Patrick Carberry, Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, and Yannick Dubois, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service)

The issue of sexuality is one of the biggest cultural challenges for the fire service, the judges agreed, with very few members of the LGB community prepared to be open about their sexuality.

But groundbreaking work from this LGBT support group has paved the way for a change of culture in the workforce.

Starting as a network group 15 years ago it has now established itself as the only national organisation which campaigns for LGBT rights in the fire service; working closely with the government and all the UK's fire authorities.

Stewart Brown said:

"We work on how we can make life better for gay, lesbian, bi and transgender firefighters and raise awareness of all the issues affecting them. At the end of the day it's about gaining some respect from our colleagues.

"The fire service is moving in the right direction but the culture and the workforce is slow to change; we need clear leadership, a clear message and good communication.

"These awards give people a bit of an incentive and really push certain issues. They also create a bit of competition and it's a bit of fun. It's part and parcel of the government's ten year equality and diversity strategy which will be a good thing for the fire service.

"We're absolutely delighted with our award and very encouraged as the only recognised national group who campaigns for LGBT rights in the fire service to gain acknowledgment from the government."

Yannick Dubois said:

"I have worked for the group for 14 years promoting LGBT issues in the Fire Service and I am very proud to get recognition for our work. Although we have come such a long way since the early nineties and seen new legislations protecting our rights, the workplace remains a very hostile environment. We will carry on providing support to our members and push the equality agenda in the Fire Service."

Patrick Carberry added:

"We have been only too aware for over a decade now that the Service has had some major issues relating to equality and diversity in the workplace. When it comes to diversity often it is easier to concentrate on making visible change such as with race and gender balance. For those who are members of an invisible community such as the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Trans community recognizing commitment to their needs is a much harder challenge to demonstrate.

"This award sends out a clear message to all the members of the LGBT community that this is a 21st Century Fire Service that embraces and values all, not for what they are but for what they have to offer.

"This award names three individuals but is an award to a much wider group of people. It is in recognition of all the officials who have served on the FBU Gay and Lesbian Committee and all the other officials and members who have supported them. It is also in recognition to all the Fire Authorities who support these officials with encouragement and time to provide the necessary support and advice to all who are in need of it."

There were two runners up, receiving letters of commendation:

i.  Asian Fire Service Association (Akwala Deol and Manjit Singh, London FireBrigade) 

This small local group has developed to gain a national presence in a short space of time, according to the judges. The association is now a key FRS stakeholder with representation on national bodies playing a role in tackling religious issues, developing community links, charity work and supporting recruitment and retention.

ii. Lorraine Abrahams (Director of Service Improvement, Avon Fire & Rescue Service)

Avon's promotion of diversity issues through hosting this pioneering event for the FRS was acknowledged by judges. Although it's too soon to see any practical outcomes it certainly raised awareness and gained a strong attendance. Avon's promotion of LGBT issues through the establishment of a watch managers' equalities forum was also noted. 

Category: Service Delivery (Individual Award)

Winner: Chris Caswell (Watch Manager, Strood Fire Station, Kent Fire and Rescue Service)

Helping people with dyslexia feel they could come forward was at the heart of Chris Caswell's work. Raising awareness of hidden disability helped other people with dyslexia feel they could be open about it. Chris' work has also improved the way in which Kent FRS supported people with disabilities both in the workplace and in the community. As a result Kent FRS has shared its success and provided practical support for staff in other FRS.

There were two runners up, receiving letters of commendation:

i. Michael Skee (Catering Services Manager, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service)

This runner-up overcame a serious disability, raised awareness of the issues and helped his organisation make necessary adjustments so they could meet the needs of a disabled individual and retain an effective and talented member of staff. Whilst Mr Skee was central to his own rehabilitation and return to work, the judges also recognised the contribution of the team of professionals both within and outside the Service who helped and supported him.

ii. Cliff Butterworth (Community Safety Co-ordinator, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service)

Cliff Butterworth's work on fitting specialist smoke alarms has been recognised by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People. This project, running since 2003 has resulted in over 450 specialist smoke alarms being fitted. Cliff has actually undertaken training in British Sign Language of his own volition and encouraged Hertfordshire FRS to fund signing courses for other staff.

Category: Service Delivery (Team Award)

There were two winners in this category:

i. Pamaljit Kaur Sidhu (Phoenix Project Co-ordinator, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service)

A programme of fire safety education involving community groups, schools and businesses led to fire service engagement with a diverse range of cultures, beliefs, ethnic groups and ages. The Fire Safety Team did an outstanding job exceeding their ambitious targets and judges were particularly impressed by the call reduction outcomes over the two year period.

ii. Neil Ashworth (Watch Manager, Burnley Fire Station, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service)

After a spate of incidents where firefighters were physically and verbally abused from local youths from the ethnic minority community, Burnley decided to take a proactive approach.

The watch manager and crew of Burnley Fire Station took the initiative and went out to talk to young members of the community and engage with them to build better relations.

Community outreach development officer Naveed Sharif said:

"Fire appliances were getting stoned and firefighters were getting abused in specific areas so we decided to engage directly with these youths."

After five nights of constantly targeting certain areas; introducing crews and explaining what they did, playing football, talking about careers in the fire service and generally building bridges the attacks stopped almost over-night.

Several young people from the minority ethnic community expressed an interest in joining the service as its image improved and anti-social behaviour was reduced.

Crews are continuing to interact with young people on a regular basis and the programme is being used as an example for other FRS.

Naveed said:

"We couldn't be more pleased with this award; it's brilliant news. It recognises nationally the efforts we made at grass roots levels. It's for the crews who did a great job and they'll still doing it. The work is not going to stop and this award enforces the good work being done."

The runner up, receiving a letter of commendation:

Rebecca Howard (Monitoring and Performance Officer, London Fire Brigade)

This scheme initiated ground breaking work to engage with the LGB community through the club circuit. Concerned about signalling a positive attitude towards LGB issues and making themselves more accessible, London targeted this particular area. This was of particular importance because of high instances of lone males as victims of fire. Still in its early stages this scheme a commendation for the ground breaking nature of their work not only in the context of the fire and rescue service but generally across the public sector.

Category: Partnership Working

Winner: Rex Webb (Relationship Manager, Salisbury Fire Station, Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service)

This project was all about the FRS leading the way in engaging with migrant communities.

Rex Webb was responsible for setting up partnerships between these communities and Wiltshire FRS to improve communication with migrant groups.

Migrant workers' forums were set up and, working with many community groups and services including health, education and the police, the FRS really took the initiative to build bridges between different communities in Wiltshire.

Rex said:

"Our work on this shows that as an organisation we're willing to accept people from different backgrounds and I'm honoured to receive the award in recognition of partnership working in Wiltshire. The success of the migrant workers' forums is based very much on a partnership of organisations and individuals across Wiltshire and I would like to thank all these people for their support and hard work."

There were two runners up, receiving letters of commendation:

(i) Paul Fuller (Chief Fire Officer, Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and rescue Service) and Tanja Kuveljic (Managing Director, b-live)

This project used new technology to engage with young, diverse groups, especially women and ethnic minorities. A business and on-line social networking website helped tap into the 'new generation' and helped raise awareness.

(ii) Danny Roberts  (Firefighter, Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service)

This short term project saw one firefighter set up sport based work with disabled students with the aim of filtering the fire safety message to a much wider audience. It showed how people from an 'at risk' group could be fully engaged by the FRS, get involved and at the same time have fun.

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