30 May 2008

Making The Difference — Equality, Diversity and the Fire and Rescue Service, Wednesday 28 May 2008

The Equality and Diversity Strategy was launched at a conference at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London on 28 May, hosted by Communities and Local Government. The event was principally aimed at the Service’s leaders who are responsible for ensuring that the Strategy drives change.

The Equality and Diversity Strategy's vision is to create, by 2018, a Fire & Rescue Service which can demonstrate that it serves all communities equally to the highest standards, building on a closer and more effective relationship with the public and creating a more diverse workforce which better reflects the diversity of the local working population in each area.

The Strategy requires action by all Fire & Rescue Services, supported by Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Agency, Chief Fire Officers Association and other partners in five priority areas:

  • Leadership
  • Accountability
  • Workforce Diversity
  • Service Delivery
  • Evaluation and Dissemination of Good Practice.

Chairman of the Fire Authority, Cllr Michael Murphy said that East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service welcomed the direction outlined in the strategy. He emphasised, in particular, his support for the focus placed on valuing individuality both within the communities we serve and in our own work force. He commented;

“We are taking forward all elements of the Equality and Diversity strategy in order to build a modern and responsive Fire & Rescue Service that is equipped to deal with the diverse needs of all the communities of East Sussex and the City of Brighton & Hove.”

The 2008 Fire and Rescue Service Equality and Diversity Awards were also presented at the conference. Mick Feather, Equal Opportunities Learning & Development Co-ordinator for East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, along with Yanick Dubois, Station Manager at Headquarters, received awards for outstanding contributions to the national Equality and Diversity agenda.

Mick Feather, who won the award for his contribution in producing a highly acclaimed disability poster initiative, commented;

“I am very pleased to have won the award and I would like to thank the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Chris Large and the Personnel Director, Chris Greenway for supporting the initiative.

I would also like to thank Andrew Williamson along with the media students at Sussex Downs College and Jeff Collins, a Graphic Designer at East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service for all of their hard work in producing this poster.

I would like to dedicate this award to Chris Paine, Co-Chair of Lewes and Wealden Learning Disability Network and service user of the Bellbrook Centre in Uckfield. He works tirelessly to make life better for disabled people.”

Yanick Dubois, who won her award for Team Leadership in the work she has progressed within the Fire Brigade Unions, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities (LGBT) responded by saying that;

“I have worked for the gay and lesbian group for 14 years promoting LGBT issues in the United Kingdom Fire Services 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 in some cases and most LGBT staff do not feel comfortable to come out.

I will carry on providing support to our anyone who needs it and work closely with my employer ESFRS to make our workplaces a safe and enjoyable environment.”

More information on the Fire and Rescue Service Equality and Diversity Strategy can be found on the Communities and Local Government website or by clicking on the following link: