Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is proud to be an advocate for veterans and serving personnel, both within its teams and in the public. 

As well as being an Armed Forces-friendly employer, KFRS is committed to extending its support and services to residents who have served, or continue to serve, for their country. 

Tony Gander is one of KFRS’ dedicated Armed Forces Champions and a Safe and Well Officer. He visits people’s homes to ensure they are safe from the risk of a fire or harm and signposts them to additional support. 

Through these visits, veterans and their families across Kent and Medway have been referred to helpful advice and community groups, such as the RAF Benevolent Fund’s Every Generation group. 

The hub meets every month in Birchington-on-Sea for a two-hour craft session, and more than half of its members have joined from across the county, following one of Tony’s home safety visits. 

Tony said: “I have family who are ex-military and I know how private and proud they can be, so just by asking the simple question ‘have you or anyone in your household served’ and looking for memorabilia or signs of service around the home, can open a conversation and allow us to help. 

“Knowing I’ve made a tiny bit of difference to someone’s life is incredible and something I never take for granted.” 

Veteran Doug and his wife Margaret were referred to the Every Generation group by Tony two years ago and say they’ve never looked back. 

Margaret added: “You get to meet people and chat, and there’s always something to do, which we wouldn’t do if we didn’t come to the group. It’s made a huge difference to our lives.

“And, if it hadn’t been for Tony, we wouldn’t have known about it.”

Nikki Ward, who runs the monthly meeting, said: “For some of these people who have been referred to us through KFRS, it’s their only trip out, so it has a great impact on their lives and for their families. 

“To see them enjoy the comradeship and the arts and crafts, it really is wonderful.” 

KFRS is a proud holder of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme - Gold Award and actively promotes a supportive and inclusive work environment for military personnel, their families, and veterans.

Crew Manager Wendy Vallely is the service’s Armed Forces Network Lead and is also ex-military. 

She said: “It’s incredibly important to support veterans and members of the armed forces because they are a community of their own. They commit their lives, as do their families, to serving their country and then they come back, and that can be really isolating. 

“So, to be able to help and to make life-changing referrals to organisations such as the RAF Benevolent Fund, or to secure them mobility or financial support, it’s humbling, it’s emotional and it makes us very proud.” 

KFRS’ free home fire safety visits are available for to anyone who:

• is aged 70 or over 
• is living with dementia  
• has a long term health condition 
• has young children or is pregnant  
• is a smoker

You can use the online referral form to arrange a visit, or you can speak to a home fire safety advisor on 0800 923 7000 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, voicemail outside these hours). This call is free from most home and mobile phones, but please check with your phone company for confirmation.

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is the RAF's longest-standing charity and has been supporting the RAF Family for 107 years with financial, practical and emotional support. We exist to support current and former members of the RAF, their partners and families, whenever they need us. One day's service, a lifetime of support. For more information visit: www.rafbf.org.