Equality and Diversity Awards

 
A partnership developed by Kent firefighters so that they can engage with teenagers with additional learning needs has triumphed at the first national Fire and Rescue Service Equality and Diversity Awards.

Conceived and developed by Faversham Crew Manager Gary McRobb, the unique initiative with students from Meadowfield School, Sittingbourne, comprises of a range of activities including exercises to raise understanding of the fire service and safety issues, as well as helping pupils personal development through confidence building sessions and debate.

Speaking at the Fire 2007 conference at Birmingham NEC, Fire Minister Angela Smith presented the awards. These give recognition to Fire and Rescue Service staff in England - both individually and in teams - who have shown exceptional commitment to leadership, service delivery and partnership working which furthers the aim of improving diversity in the Fire and Rescue Service.

The partnership between Meadowfield School and Faversham Fire Station fought off 40 other applicants to win the Communities and Local Government sponsored Partnership Working Team Award.

The panel of judges made up by both private and public sector peers who had an excellent understanding of equality and diversity issues, said: “This was an excellent project demonstrating good practice in terms of the breadth and nature of the partnership working. It was a well structured and professional scheme to which Fire and Rescue Service personnel brought a raft of skills. It demonstrated real public engagement; it clearly met short term aims and contributed to longer term gains in respect of engagement with the wider and less accessible community. Everyone involved had clear outcomes to take away – the children, the community and the Fire and Rescue Service.”

Faversham Red Watch Crew Manager Gary McRobb said: “We are so pleased to win this award - a tremendous amount of hard work went into the design and delivery of the scheme so that met every pupils needs. Kent Fire and Rescue Service already runs courses for those in mainstream education and by setting up this programme with Meadowfield we are able to offer practical help and advice to a section of the community that can be hard to reach. Also, by building the young people’s personal skills and confidence we have opened doors into areas where we may increase our recruitment – an idea which the teenagers may not have pursued prior to the course.”

Head of Secondary Department Janet Rankin said: “Our pupils’ development has been greatly enhanced by this remarkable partnership. We are keen to continue and develop it and would like to congratulate and thank Gary and Red Watch Faversham for their commitment, enthusiasm and dedication to tailoring their approach to community safety.”