Shout! Winter 2018

Issue 19 Winter 2018/19

Official magazine of The Fire Fighters Charity

www.firefighterscharity.org.uk

Head Start How a helmet helped this toddler and his firefighter family Spirit of Fire 2018

Behind the scenes at our awards

Mental health, My75Miles and me The story of one man’s epic journey

FROM THE ARCHIVES

From the anniversary archives You’ll find a few images from across the decades in this issue of Shout!, starting with this reminder of how we looked 10 years ago.

Editorial of Fire nominees and winners, 2018 has fittingly marked this milestone. It has given us a chance to reflect on our roots and it has reminded us of Welcome to the the reason we exist Autumn/Winter 2018 today; to support the issue of Shout! from mental, physical and The Fire Fighters social wellbeing of the Charity. As we approach modern-day UK fire the end of the year and services community. thoughts inevitably You can read about a lot of our begin to turn to anniversary celebrations in this issue Christmas and the of Shout!. We have some behind New Year, we can take the scenes photos from Spirit of Fire and a fascinating insight into a look back on what the # My7 5Miles challenge from one has been an incredible of our supporters who took on the 75th anniversary feat after we supported him with year for the Charity. his mental health. On the subject of From the remarkable # My7 5Miles, it’s also not too late to join the party. We’d love as many achievements of people as possible to take part in our #My75Miles 2018 and the event is open to new participants, who have participants up to 31 December. embraced the challenge in this issue of Shout! in spectacularly diverse Elsewhere we have the inspirational story of ways, to the deserving the Morris family who we were able to support with the purchase of a success of our Spirit

special helmet to help with their infant son’s plagiocephaly, putting a smile back on all their faces. It’s just one example of the many ways we support fire fighters and their dependants at home and in their local communities, a side of the organisation’s work that you might not be so familiar with.

We’ve also recently been working to promote the importance of writing a will. Whatever your age, making sure you have decided where and to whom you would like your money and possessions to pass once you die is hugely important. You can find out more on page 28 and also on our YouTube channel, ShoutT V !, where you can watch interviews from across this issue. Subscribing to the channel means you’ll be updated whenever we post a new video.

Enjoy the magazine and keep in touch with the editorial team at shout@firefighterscharity.org.uk if you have any ideas for stories we could cover in future issues.

Dr Jill Tolfrey Chief ecutive

Contents 4 Shout! about it

All the latest news from The Fire Fighters Charity

6 Events

Find out what’s going on over the coming months and how to take part

7 @FFC

Tweets, posts, likes and shares

18 Thank You and Good Luck

A special mention to the runners, riders, swimmers and climbers who raise money for the Charity

20 Commercial update

Discover which huge recycling milestone we’ve just passed, and find out about a new watch in our shop

24 Family Matters

9 The gift that keeps giving

Meet Lisa Matthews, our Trusts and Legacy Manager

How we helped a newborn boy to rediscover his smile, thanks to a high tech helmet

10 Winning Ways

28 The importance of writing a will

eet ave Clegg and find out exactly why he won a Supporter of The Year award at Spirit of Fire

Trustee Roddy MacLeod on why it’s important to write a will and how you can do it

12 In fine Spirit

29 My Mind and Body Miles

A look behind the scenes at this year’s Spirit of Fire Awards ceremony

ark chofield is tackling our y 5 iles to raise money and as part of his recovery from PTSD

16 Social Spirit

32 A social enterprise

A snapshot of our nominees and winners’ top trending social posts, tweets and likes from Spirit of Fire

Welfare Team Leader, Carrie Donohue, explains why people sometimes need to reach out to the Charity for support in their own homes.

33 Riding the retirement rollercoaster Psychological Therapist AJ Whitaker on retirement; the positives, the pitfalls and why psychological planning is important

36 Game of Carbs Exercise Therapist, Jamie Perryman, on healthy carbohydrate alternatives

37 Women’s Health Psychological Therapist Liese Weatherspoon discusses managing transition and the impact it can have on women’s lives

38 Shout+ News and information for the retired community

40 A Shout! from the past look back at 2 Shout! magazine

and the first issue of

42 Competition Enter our simple competition to win another great prize

Registered Office: The Fire Fighters Charity, Level 6, Belvedere, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG. Charity registered in England & Wales (1093387) and Scotland (SC040096) Disclaimer: The Fire Fighters Charity believe that the information given in this magazine is correct at the time of going to print. We cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions. The opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the writers and not always that of the Charity. Where external links are provided – to other websites or social media accounts – we do not endorse the content carried on these sites and readers visiting them do so at their own risk. Although all advertising is expected to conform to the appropriate advertising standards, inclusion or insertion of such material in this magazine does not constitute a guarantee or endorsement on The Fire Fighters Charity’s behalf of the quality or value of any products or of the claims made for them by the advertiser. Readers are advised to verify product information with the advertiser.

Shout! about it

Contact the editorial team on shout@firefighterscharity.org.uk or 01256 366566

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NEWS

Shout! about it Here’s where you’ll find out what we and our supporters have been working on over the last six months. We’re always on the look out for interesting stories and if you’ve got something newsworthy that you’d like to Shout! about, let us know: shout@firefighterscharity.org.uk

Mayor of Bracknell raises huge sum

My75Miles registration extension Throughout the course of 2018 many of you have been running, walking, swimming, cycling, skiing, climbing and rowing your way towards completing our anniversary # My7 5Miles challenge. Those yet to take part, however, can now extend their 7 5 miles into 2019 as we’ve extended registration for the event right up to 31 December.

Natasha Mason, Regional Fundraising Team Leader, explained: “Originally the challenge stated that each competitor had to complete his or her 7 5 miles by the end of 2018 , effectively within our 7 5th anniversary year. However, we thought that might put people off signing up for the event in the latter half of the year, out of a worry about completing it in time.

“Making this change means that, as long as people have registered and joined the challenge by 31 December this year, they can continue to complete their miles into 2019 and hopefully raise as much money as they can for us.”

The # My7 5Miles Challenge allows challengers to take on the distance any way they wish, raising a minimum of £ 7 5 per person along the way. To date, almost people have taken part, raising almost £ 35,000, with many still to complete their miles and their fundraising.

To register simply visit www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/ my miles and good luck!

Team Noble Dinner Cruise Prize Former Mayor of Bracknell, Tina McKenzieBoyle chose The Fire Fighters Charity as her Charity of The Year throughout her 2017 -18 term in office. The hard working and fearless councillor carried out numerous fundraising events across the year, including a skydive from 10,000 feet and, in June, after hanging up her mayoral chains, presented us with a cheque for £ 52,667 .8 0. peaking of her year in office and her fundraising, which included an end of year dinner, Councillor McKenzie-Boyle said: irefighters protect us, 2 hours a day, 5 days a year and risk their lives to keep us safe. s the daughter of a former senior firefighter, I know first hand how much the support is

needed. I want to thank everyone who came to the [dinner] event and helped raise money to make it the great success it was, including our sponsors. It has been fantastic to give back to such a worthwhile cause.”

Kerry James, the Charity’s Regional Fundraiser for the Southern Region added: “We are so grateful to Councillor McKenzieBoyle for all that she has done to raise such a huge sum for us, and to increase awareness amongst the local community of the work of the fire service and of our charity. This money will make a huge difference to so many people, so she and the people of Bracknell should be very proud of what they’ve achieved.”

Shout!

irefighter ristopher lliot and his brother Blair, otherwise known as the intrepid Team Noble rowers who earlier this year rowed their way across the Atlantic in 55 days, recently held a black tie ball to raise further funds for us.

The event was supported by one of our textile recycling partners, Clyde Recyling, as well as by a host of other sponsors who backed the brothers’ challenge.

Amongst these supporters were the owners and crew of SS Irene, a historic chartered sailing ship, who provided a cruise for two people worth over £ 1,000 as a prize for the brothers’ glitzy ball.

NEWS

News Shorts...

De Brye Charitable Trust donates £2,000 Earlier this summer the de Brye Charitable Trust kindly donated £2,000 to the Charity, to support firefighters injured or in need of psychological support.

Lisa Matthews, Trust and Legacies Manager, said of the donation: “This generous sum from the de Brye Charitable Trust will go a long way towards helping us to provide tailor-made programmes of support for firefighters recovering from injury or requiring psychological support.

We are hugely grateful.”

Sainsbury’s Charity of The Year announcements The Fire Fighters Charity has once again been named Local Charity of The Year at a host of Sainsbury’s stores across the UK – from Sudbury in Suffolk to Hamilton in Scotland.

Voted for by members of the public, the popular scheme sees Sainsbury’s stores supporting charities that are important to their immediate local communities. Each store nominates a number of different charities and the winner is chosen via a public vote. Each winning charity is then supported throughout the year and we will work in a ‘collaborative partnership’ with Sainsbury’s to raise awareness and to take part in fundraising activities at each store throughout the next 12 months.

Slough Scoop Car Wash Crown Slough Fire Station won the top prize in the 2017/18 National Car Wash League, contributing an impressive haul of £5009.22 towards a staggering national total of £236,073.

However, the closest ever National Car Wash League saw the Royal Berkshire station take top honours by a margin of just £2.51 from Surrey’s Epsom Fire Station.

The 2018/19 National Car Wash League,

meanwhile, is now underway and you can find out where your nearest car wash is by checking out the Car Wash map on our website – www. firefighterscharity.org.uk/carwash. If you’d like to take part in the League and to find out more about how your station could get involved, the same link will provide you with a wealth of information, including a fundraising toolkit, to get your event off to a flying start.

Blazing Saddles team complete epic Gibraltar ride

Retail giants Amazon and eBay have launched charity schemes allowing shoppers to choose a charity to which a percentage of the value of their shopping, or their sales in the case of eBay, are donated.

To find your local Sainsbury’s store supporting us visit www. firefighterscharity.org.uk/stores

Kent draw turns 25 In June, Chief Executive Jill Tolfrey attended the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Kent Prize draw, joining them for their 100th draw.

The popular draw began in March 1993 and has raised nearly £660,000 for the Charity over its 25 years. It has also handed out around £2.2m in prize money to grateful winners.

Today the draw is managed by Robin Ainsworth, Hazel Walters, Margaret Aldridge and Colin King who is a serving member of Kent Fire and Rescue Service and is the link between the service and the Prize Draw team.

Speaking after the 100th draw, Dr Tolfrey said: “We are hugely grateful to everyone involved in the draw, today and over the past 25 years. The huge sums raised have allowed us to support a large number of people in need from across the UK fire services community.”

Amazon and eBay Charity boost

The Blazing Saddles team, from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, has completed another marathon ride in the name of charity, this time pedalling from Gibraltar Street in Oldham, Manchester, through England, France and Spain to Gibraltar.

115 miles a day and climbing more than 100,000 feet – raising a staggering £32,000 for The Fire Fighters Charity and three other charities close to the team’s hearts.

Upon their eventual arrival in Gibraltar the team was greeted by family, friends, local dignities and the Gibraltar Fire Service, The 13-strong strong team clocked up 1,700 miles over 15 who gave them a noisy days – averaging an incredible welcome complete with sirens.

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We’ve joined both schemes, so when you’re doing your shopping or selling your unwanted items, you can now help us to support members of the fire services community in need. Visit smile.amazon. co.uk to take advantage of the Amazon scheme when you shop and search for ‘eBay for Charity’ to find out how to donate to us when you sell your old stuff.

Phone line hours You can call us to find out how we can help you during the following times: Monday to Friday: 0800 - 1700

EVENTS DIARY

Events

Save the date

Whether you run, walk, bike or bake, there’s bound to be a fundraising event for you this year, here are just a few...

25 and 26 May 2019: Edinburgh Marathon Festival Details: Run the distance that best suits you! This evergrowing festival of running accommodates all fitness abilities and we have places for the 10K, half and full marathon, all of which offer stunning views of the city.

How to enter: Register via our website at www. firefighterscharity.org.uk/ events Registration fee: None Minimum fundraise: 10K £ 200, half marathon £ 330, marathon £ 560

28 April 2019: Southampton Half Marathon Details: tarting and finishing in Southampton’s city centre, the route takes you past some iconic local landmarks including Bargate, QE2 Anchor and St Mary’s Stadium.

Closed exclusively for this unique event, running along the 8 00-metre Itchen Bridge is sure to be a highlight.

How to enter: Register via our website at www. firefighterscharity.org.uk/ events Registration fee: £ 30 Minimum fundraise: There is no minimum fundraiser, just raise as much as you can!

Various dates between 3 July – 1 September 2019: Icelandic Lava Trek Details: View the beautiful mountains, volcanic landscapes, glaciers, hot springs and waterfalls of Iceland when you take on this tough and challenging five-day trek.

How to enter: Register via our website at www. firefighterscharity.org.uk/ events Registration fee: Minimum fundraise: £ 3,200

Anytime: Skydiving Details: Great for adrenaline junkies or those who want to experience their first ever skydive. Freefalling for several thousand feet, you will be harnessed to a professional parachute instructor throughout the entire descent.

Choose a location and date that works for you.

Shout!

How to enter: Visit www. firefighterscharity.org. uk/events and search for skydiving Registration fee: None Minimum fundraise: Raise £ 39 5 for us and you can jump for free

SOCIAL LIVES

FFC

We love hearing about all the incredible things you do to support us and the experiences of those we’ve been able to support. We’d love to mention and thank you all, but it would fill up the entire magazine. Instead, here’s a brief selection of your recent comments on our social media channels – do make sure you get in touch via Twitter (@firefighters999) or Facebook (/thefirefighterscharity).

Tweet relief StrongArm Team UK @StrongArmTeamU1 antastic effort by our firefighters at @ edsheeran gig Newcastle collecting for firefighters supporting colleagues & those affected by # Grenfell, public support incredible with them praising work firefighters do with donations, hugs & handshakes

Kim Robson @kimrobsonuk Fiona Prew

Nikki Cook

Really excellent first full day firefighters (Jubilee House) for shoulder rehab, already benefited both physically & psychologically & looking forward to what the rest of the wk brings # FireFightersCharity # PainManagement # Physio # Hydro

firefighters I’ve had the most amazing few days at jubilee house, making use of the physiological team and the fitness team.

They all deserve a medal for the work they do here. Thank you to everyone that I have met this week, going home a recycled mum with a clearer head xx

@FionaSPrew

@cookiebiscuit40

Ian Humphreys

ey firefighters we are on our way home now, another mile to add to # My7 5miles with Blaze Bear

@IanHumphreys63 firefighters a big thank you to all the staff at # Harcombe House.

What an amazing week. You were all amazing. X

Face to face

Ashley Hutton 30 May

Amazing staff. This really helped me. Thank you all so much x

Jonathan. A. Wright 6 May

Really great team of experienced staff that go above and beyond to help you get back to health, excellent facility and good food.

Simon Burch 6 April

I have had the opportunity to receive some

amazing help for all of the staff at Jubilee house and would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The professionalism of everyone is the best you will ever find. Thank you.

Aaron @aaronlp1 Had an elderly man stop me on my run today to ask how to donate to firefighters ust wearing the vest on a run is raising awareness all the time. If you’re out there and you see this tweet Sir, you have a bloody good day # ThankYou # SaltOfTheEarth manchesterfire

James Tomkins 25 June

I spent last week staying here for rehab after surgery, lovely place, fantastic people & staff.

Rebecca Denton 24 March

Nic Cads 20 May

Amazing charity. I have been to the rehab centre jubilee house and it was just brilliant.

I would never have recovered so much if I had not attended. Amazing place and people. Thank you x

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What an amazing place, absolutely everyone that works here can’t do enough to help you.

I’m leaving today and looking forward to returning, helped me massively. A thank you doesn’t seem enough x

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Wheelchair heroes Wheelchair technology has advanced somewhat since we supported these Blitz veterans with the provision of two new ‘motor-propelled wheel-chairs’ in the mid 1940s.

The gift that keeps giving

By Lisa Matthews, Trusts and Legacy Manager, The Fire Fighters Charity

I

have been working for The Fire Fighters Charity for eight years and in the last four years my role has included managing and dealing with all of the gifts left to us by the charity by people in their wills. It’s a side of fundraising that doesn’t receive the same level of publicity or promotion as our events, challenges or campaigns, but it’s an incredibly important and profound part of our work, honouring the last wishes of people.

My day-to-day role therefore includes liaising with solicitors, family members and other charities, helping to ensure that the individual’s wishes are processed correctly and that we receive the relevant income.

The process involved can be very time consuming and can often take several years to fully complete. owever, I find it fascinating, especially when you discover the reason behind why someone has chosen to leave a gift to the Charity. We receive gifts from beneficiaries who served in the fire service for their entire career or during

different gifts of varying the Second World War. We also receive gifts from the general amounts. In 2005, for example, public whose lives were touched we received a staggering gift by the fire service. They may for , which helped perhaps have been us to re-develop rescued from a Harcombe House. house fire when More recently “Deciding to leave a they were in 2012 we young, or gift is an intensely received a gift had their private and personal of just under life saved decision that has £ 38 0,000. following a been carefully Both of these road traffic considered, so we incredible gifts collision. It is always honour it to were received lovely to read its fullest.” from retired these stories firefighters, who and to discover the served throughout impact that the Charity or fire service has had on their working lives. These that person’s life. It always vast sums are the exception reinforces the significance of the to the rule as the vast majority work we do and the incredible of gifts donated to us are difference the fire service makes for smaller sums. However, to the people it is there to whatever its size, every protect. individual’s gift holds just as much value for us. I always Gifts in wills account for around feel that each gift represents 6% of the total income we a personal wish to help others receive each year and, as such, once that person’s life has come form a vital part of our annual fundraising, helping us to fund to an end. Deciding to leave a our services across the UK gift is an intensely private and for thousands of beneficiaries. personal decision that has been Since I have been in the role carefully considered, so we we have received countless always honour it to its fullest.

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Of course talking about dying is a difficult and even taboo subject for some, but writing a will is extremely important to ensure that your family are aware of your wishes once you are no longer here to ask. I know from my experiences in this role, however, that not leaving a will can lead to all kinds of problems for those who are left to tie up your affairs once you die. So, if you’re reading this and haven’t yet made a will, my advice would be to do so, it’s not as difficult as you might imagine it to be.

Why you should write a will Turn to page 28 for more information on why you should write a will. The Fire Fighters Charity Trustee, Roddy MacLeod, explains why and how you should take the time to write a will.

MEET THE TEAM

Winning Ways

By Dave Clegg, former Volunteer Station Rep, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Winner of the 2018 Spirit of Fire Supporter of The Year Non-Uniform Staff Award

E

arlier this year I was awarded the NonUniform Supporter of The Year award at the Spirit of Fire Awards in London. This was as a result of many years of campaigning and fundraising for The ire fighters Charity and was an incredibly proud moment for me.

I started working for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in 2006 having previously served in the Royal Navy for years. It quickly became apparent to me that the sense of camaraderie in the Fire Service was incredibly similar to that within the armed forces, so I quickly settled into my role. I was originally based at Burnley Fire Station, which held an annual 10KM road race to raise funds for the Charity.

The year after I started working there, however, a change of personnel meant that nobody

was able to organise the event and, after running every year since 19 8 7 , it was in danger of coming to an end. I therefore decided to take on the challenge of organising that year’s event, which turned out to be an incredibly steep learning curve.

incredible work that was being done there.

From that point on I attended every fundraising event that I could get to and encouraged my colleagues to do the same. I also decided to fundraise myself, taking part in the Great North Run and then “Putting that event The race the London thankfully Marathon a together gave me a turned out few years real flavour of how to be a later. I was much events like success, already part but putting these can bring of a great that event fundraising people together” together network/team gave me a within Lancashire real flavour of Fire and Rescue how much events Service which oversaw like these can bring people some great events, which I together. Around about the assisted with and took part in, same time I went to visit the including a eat The irefighter Charity’s Jubilee House centre challenge and a sponsored in Penrith and was impressed kayak ride the length of the by both the facilities and the Preston to Lancaster canal.

Shout!

A few years later my role changed and I moved to our Headquarters in Preston. There I was able to be part of the fundraising team that met regularly and I decided, in an attempt to increase the Service’s fundraising, that we would expand the Burnley charity road race to further stations within Lancashire, effectively creating a series of Charity 10Ks. One in particular, held at our Training Centre in Chorley, proved to be incredibly popular and has regularly sold out, raising thousands of pounds for the Charity.

I have now moved on from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service but will continue to support the Charity wherever possible. Fundraising brings people together and this, alongside the work of The Fire Fighters Charity, unites the firefighting community in an incredible way.

Make a difference with a monthly donation

We make a life changing difference to thousands of people in the fire service community every year. This wouldn’t be possible without the people who give regular monthly donations.

Please consider setting up a regular monthly donation so we can continue to be there for those who are in need within our fire and rescue community.

Set up your monthly donation today at www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/regulargiving

Copyright Š 2018 The Fire Fighters Charity. All Rights Reserved. The Fire Fighters Charity, Level 6. Belvedere, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG. Registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1093387) and Scotland (SC040096) Royal Patron Her Majesty The Queen

In fine Spirit Back in June, excited nominees from across the UK descended on One Great George Street in Central London for the Spirit of Fire Awards 2018. Here’s an inside look at a day of celebration and reflection.

T

he Institution of Civil Engineers at One Great George Street is an imposing Grade II listed building, a stone’s throw from Parliament Square and the Houses of Parliament.

Venue for the 2018 Spirit of Fire Awards, it’s Tardislike interior houses a vast, high-ceilinged Great Hall where, on the morning of June 21, 160 nominees and guests mingled, sipping tea

and nibbling pastries as they waited anxiously for the much anticipated awards ceremony to begin.

Although the first such ceremony since 2015, Spirit of Fire has a long history, championing the achievements, dedication and hard work of individual fire and rescue service personnel serving and retired - as well as teams, entire fire and rescue services and others who have supported us by means worthy of celebration. It has long been

a highlight of the fire community calendar and has been celebrated in style in the past at various venues across London, including Wembley Stadium.

In our 75th anniversary year, however, the awards returned to Westminster and, in a format befitting our ambition to become a sustainable charity for the next 75 years and beyond, it was a daytime event, supported by sponsors.

Having consumed sufficient caffeine and having had an

Shout!

opportunity to meet some of their fellow nominees – as well as to pose for selfies alongside lifesize images of firefighter uniforms from across the last eight decades – our suited and booted guests made their way into the Telford Theatre for the awards ceremony.

Spirit of Fire regular and long-term supporter of the Charity, BBC newsreader Nicholas Owen, was our host for the ceremony once again.

Nicholas’s son-in-law is a

Team of The Y ear: J ohn O ’Groats to L and’s E nd Cyc le Team, O x fordshire Fire and Resc ue Serv ic e

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Supporter of the Y ear – D ependant: L ynn Bow

Beneficiary of Courage: Roger Moore

Supporter of the Y ear – Control Staff: Sarah Goodall

Supporter of the Y ear – Fire and Resc ue Service: Mid West Wales Service

urrey firefighter and he has often spoken of his affection for the fire service, regularly also ensuring an additional woop or round of applause is given whenever urrey ire and Rescue ervice is amongst the pirit of ire nominees. ssuming lectern duties once again, icholas took the reins and got proceedings underway, commencing with a special recognition award for any Cotton, Commissioner of ondon ire rigade.

Recognising the contribution that the Commissioner has made over the past year in raising awareness of the mental health burdens carried by members of the fire and rescue service, including through the honest and open approach in which she has

Supporter of the Year Martin ritchard

talked about her own personal struggles, any graciously accepted the pecial Recognition award to a warm round of applause. further ten awards followed, across almost an hour and a half of further applause and celebratory hollering as individuals and teams from a broad spectrum of fire and rescue services and areas of the country made their way to the stage to claim their flameshaped, glass awards. inners on the day included • Spec ial Rec ognition A ward - Rec ognising ex c ellenc e in promoting positiv e mental health: on by any Cotton, Commissioner, ondon ire rigade

Firefighter:

• Supporter of the Y ear – Firefighter: on by ent ire and Rescue ervice firefighter artin Pritchard

• Supporter of the Y ear – on-beneficiary: on by 2-year-old ndrew Impey and fashion retailer lvis resse

• Supporter of the Y ear – Control Staff: on by Crew Commander Control, arah oodall, est Yorkshire ire and Rescue ervice

• Supporter of the Y ear – Fire and Resc ue Serv ic e: on by id and est ales ire and Rescue ervice

• Supporter of the Y ear – N on- U niform Staff: on by ave Clegg, ead of dministration, ancashire ire and Rescue ervice • Supporter of the Y ear – D ependant: on by ynn ow, est idlands ire ervice • Supporter of the Y ear – Retired: on by evin asper Taylor, retired firefighter, ampshire ire and Rescue ervice

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Beneficiary of Courage: on by retired firefighter Roger oore, est idlands ire ervice • Team of The Y ear: ohn ’ roats to and’s nd Cycle Team, xfordshire ire and Rescue ervice The final award of the day’s formalities was that of ifetime chievement and, following the screening of a film of reflective memories from friends and colleagues, was

Supporter of the Y ear – N on- U niform Staff: D av e Clegg

Supporter of the Year on-beneficiary: Andrew Impey and lvis Kresse

Spec ial Rec ognition A ward: D any Cotton

Supporter of the Y ear – Retired: K ev in ( J asper) Taylor

awarded to Chris annell, a retired firefighter from iltshire and former ayor of Royal ooton assett who has raised thousands of pounds over more than 5 years through the loving restoration and exhibition of a fleet of historic fire engines. shocked Chris, whose family had kept the secret from him for a couple of months, spoke humbly from the lectern moments after accepting his award, talking of his many years of fundraising and how important it has been for him to support the Charity throughout that time. The standing ovation he received brought a fitting end to a morning of remarkable celebration. unch followed, together with time to pose for photos with

awards and to relax now that the winners knew who they were. short while later, however, the call came over the tannoy for all nominees, winners and their guests to make their way to o. owning treet for the second part of the day’s festivities, a reception with the ome ecretary, Rt on ajid avid P, in the garden of the Prime inister’s famous residence.

The walk was not a long one, taking no more than ten minutes before joining the security queue at the entrance to the most famous front door in the country. veryone had the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Prime inisters and world leaders and pose for a photograph on the doorstep of

o. , before making their way in via the door to o. . walk through the historic corridors of owning treet followed, past portraits and photographs of P s and cabinets past and out into the sunshine and spacious surrounds of the owning treet garden. drinks reception awaited, together with staging for the obligatory group photograph which was taken moments later when the ome ecretary and inister for Policing and the ire ervice, Rt on ick urd P, made their appearance.

The pair spent a short while meeting and talking to nominees and winners before the ome ecretary stepped to the podium to deliver a speech. e spoke of the high regard in which the everyday heroes

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of the fire and rescue services are held by the public and of the work of The ire ighters Charity in what he called our special 5th birthday year.’ e namechecked a handful of winners, congratulated everyone for their hard work and dedication and also spoke of the challenging year it has been for the fire service in the wake of the renfell Tower fire and terror attacks of 2 . few drinks followed in the afternoon sunshine, together with some tasty owning treet hors d’oeuvres, before we were politely ushered out of the garden exit and on to orse uards Parade to bring an end to pirit of ire 2 and to make our individual ways home.

Social Spirit Many of our nominees and winners took to Twitter in the build up to, during and after Spirit of Fire 2018.

Here are a selection of our favourite Tweets‌

Shout!

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THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK

Fundraising focus There are so many people taking on amazing challenges to raise money for the Charity. Here we say thank you to just a few of those who’ve already completed their challenges.

Thank you...

Brian Murray

100 Miles to Marine Court

In une, ormer ighlands and Islands Chief ire fficer and now retained firefighter, rian urray, completed the epic Trans m ike Race, a , -mile pedal across merica in an astonishing 22 days. rian’s self-supported cycling challenge has raised more than , so far for the Charity.

att, ean and dam from reen atch, ishops tortford ire tation, ran from their home town in ertfordshire to arine Court in est ussex in one 2 -hour period. nfortunately, ean was forced to join the support crew after suffering an injury at mile 5 but they all received a great welcome at our centre in ittlehampton and managed to raise , in total.

were joined by friends and family for their -metre climb to the summit of nowdon, a challenge which raised approximately 2, .

Lord’s Lomond Challenge

Newtown’s Snowdon Climb Carrying a fire service ladder the entire way, crew from ewtown ire tation

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5 -year-old Carol ord from olton raised more than 2, by swimming the 2 miles of och omond in over hours, a challenge she described as the hardest thing she’s ever done. antastic achievement, Carol

THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK

Good luck...

Sainsbury’s

e’ve been named Charity of the Year’ at more than 2 ainsbury’s stores across the thanks to votes cast by members of the public. These stores will hold numerous fundraising activities and events for us over the next 2 months and we’re excited to see what they all have planned. Thank you to all the ainsbury’s employees who will spend their time over the year supporting the Charity.

#My75Miles est of luck to everyone taking part in our y 5 iles fundraising challenge for our 5th year. It’s not too late to sign up s long as you register before ecember 2 , you can take however long you need to complete it. Tackle your miles any way you wish – run, swim, cycle, walk, climb, it’s up to you. ll we ask is that you raise 5.

Three Peaks Challenge

kit and set to walk the 2 -mile ighty tride’ during iltwalk berdeen. is son, six-year-old iden, also took part by walking the five-mile ee ander’. ith the addition of a % bonus from the event’s sponsor, The unter oundation, their fundraising total amounts to more than , .

ver 5 teams took part in the 2 Three Peaks Challenge in une, raising more than , between them. Participants climbed en evis, cafell Pike and ount nowdon within 2 hours, ascending more than , feet and driving over 5 miles in total.

Walk the Thames small team from urford ire tation, xfordshire, walked miles along the River Thames to raise money for the child bereavement charity ee aw and The ire ighters Charity. They began in emble, loucestershire and finished six days later at the Thames arrier in ast ondon, raising more than 2, in total.

Darren and Aiden’s Kiltwalk arren atson, a firefighter for cottish ire and Rescue ervice donned full firefighter

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COMMERCIAL UPDATE

18,000 tonnes and counting Textile recycling hits an all-time high Since we launched our textile recycling banks in 2009, you’ve deposited a staggering 18,000 tonnes of clothing, earning us a total of £3million from our recycling partners.

This incredible landmark was achieved earlier this year and shows just how significant every jumper, sock and old pair of jeans is. Your old clothes have made a huge difference to thousands of people across the UK, allowing us to help them recover from injury, illness and psychological trauma.

Thank you.

O f c ourse, not only hav e you raised millions of pounds, you’v e also div erted 18,000 tonnes of tex tiles away from landfill, that’s the e uivalent weight of 1, 00 fire engines.

Howev er, we’v e already got our sights set on the nex t milestone and by adding a rec yc ling bank to your station forec ourt, or by taking your old c lothes to one of the current 600 bank-sporting fire stations across the K, it won’t be long before we hit the £ 4million mark.

V isit www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/recycle to v iew the loc ation of all our tex tile rec yc ling banks or if you think that your station and local community would benefit from a rec yc ling bank, get in touc h with K ev in Biles, Sales Manager on 012 6 366 3 or kbiles@firefighterscharity.org.uk.

Firefighter inspired watches Make a timely donation to our Charity Luxury British watch maker, William Wood Watches is donating 50% of its profits from the sale of a unique collection of firefighter-inspired watches to The Fire Fighters Charity. onny arrett, founder of the ondon-based timepiece specialist, has created a bespoke collection of watches in memory of his grandfather, illiam ood, who served in the ritish ire ervice for over 25 years and was awarded commendations for his bravery and service.

The watches have been designed to symbolically recognise the bravery of firefighters across the world. sing the highest quality components, all illiam ood watches include a wiss- ade Ronda movement with a battery life of up to years, domed sapphire crystal scratch resistance glass and a % stainless steel case. ach watch has its production number engraved on the case back and a limited edition illiam ood coin has also been placed inside the back of every watch. The perfect Christmas present for that special someone in your life, you can order your illiam ood watch via our online shop at www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/shop

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t u o r Clea

r u o ycupboards

r e t h g fi e r fi and help a

To find your nearest donation point go to

www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/recycle Your fire station needs your old clothes, shoes, bags and linen. Each item given to our recycling banks helps to fund our services, supporting fire fighters in need across the UK. Find out more recycling@firefighterscharity.org.uk www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/recycling Registered office: The Fire Fighters Charity, Level 6, Belvedere, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG. Charity registered in England & Wales (1093387) and Scotland (SC040096).

MERCHANDISE

New Christmas Card Designs for 2018 You can support The Fire Fighters Charity with our selection of Christmas Cards including new designs for 2018.

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1. Humorous Twin Pack – Rudolph’s Sleigh & Santa’s Tree (pack of 10 – 5 of each design)

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2. Fire Engine with Presents (pack of 10)

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3. Four Candles (pack of 10) 4. Rain Dear (pack of 10) 5. Flying Santa (pack of 10)

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6. Christmas Bunting (pack of 10) 7. All Spruced Up (pack of 10)

Visit www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/shop or call 01256 366566.

All packs are £5.00 including postage and packaging.

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MERCHANDISE

Festive Gifts Looking for a special gift with a firefighting theme? We have a selection of premium gifts available from our shop. Many of these can be personalised with engravings.

Boxed Hipflask Set Boxed 6oz Stainless Steel hipflask set – available in Royal Blue or Red £31.86 + £10.00 p&p A 6oz Blue Stainless Steel Hipflask, filler funnel and two matching thimble cups packed into a wooden presentation box.

Engraved with The Fire Fighters Charity 75th Anniversary Logo - only available until 31/12/2018.

New Brigade Engraved Crystalware A wide range of glassware and decanters from lager glasses to hosting sets with glasses and decanters.

This collection allows you to personalise any of our crystalware range with a brigade emblem, followed by a short message.

This is available on our entire range of crystalware and not just the images we are showing here. All items on this page are dispatched directly from our supplier - please allow up to 14 days for delivery. Postage £10.00 per order.

Elvis & Kresse New Elvis & Kresse items available with the option to add a personalised message.

Brigade Engraved Panel Cut Crystal Whisky Decanter with 2 Tumblers Set, Boxed CRYST-H20D-FSERV £125.00

Brigade Engraved Panel Cut Crystal Brandy Decanter with 2 Goblets Set, Boxed CRYST-H30D-FSERV £125.00

Brigade Engraved Pair of Panel Cut Crystal Whisky Glasses, Boxed CRYST-H20B-FSERV £57.85

To view more details and see our full range of gifts visit our online shop: www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/shop or call 01256 366566.

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When Colin and Sadie Morris needed funding for a high-tech helmet to improve the life of their newborn son, The Fire Fighters Charity stepped in to help.

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FAMILY MATTERS

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playful and c heeky one- year- old, Reid Morris is c learly at home in his personal ball pit.

L aughing, smiling and taking aim at our photographer with the oc c asional high v eloc ity plastic ball, he needs little enc ouragement to c hange position, play with different toys, sit atop his dad’s shoulders or do any of the other c ountless things we ask of him. His parents, meanwhile, look on and lend him a helping hand when nec essary, beaming with pride and c learly unfazed by the fac t that their home’s been inv aded by the Charity’s c ommunic ations team or that they’ll be finding plastic balls under the sofa and behind the TV for the nex t month.

from that of a couple to that of a family, Sadie tells us why Reid’s smile hasn’t always been as wide as it is today.

We have joined Colin and Sadie Morris and the bundle of energy that is their son, Reid, to talk about the incredible journey the young family has been on over the past year and how The Fire Fighters Charity has played its part in getting them to today. Sitting in the comfort of their front room, surrounded

by Reid’s toys and the odds and ends that transform any home

“He basically didn’t stop crying,” Sadie says. “He cried all the time and he just wasn’t happy.

The doctors kept telling me he had reflux and different problems and gave me different medications for him, but nothing seemed to work. I really just felt that there was something else going on and so we looked into it and sought advice on Reid’s plagiocephaly.”

“Reid was born in January 2017 ,” she explains, “and when he was born he had a really bad flattening of his skull on one side. It was called plagiocephaly. This led to problems with his back as well and he developed something called KISS – Kinematic Imbalance due to Suboccipital Stress – which basically meant his spine was affected and he had a really sore, uncomfortable back.”

Adapting to life with a baby can be tough for new parents at the best of times, but Reid’s condition meant that his early months were particularly hard.

The NHS was unable to support the Morrises as Reid’s condition was considered to be cosmetic and had a chance of getting better by itself over time. Colin and Sadie, however, disagreed and took matters into their own hands. Colin, a retained firefighter at Christchurch ire Station in Dorset, explained further; “We went to a cranial specialist in Southampton, we had a scan done of Reid’s head and it showed that his skull was flatted by mm, which meant he had severe plagiocephaly, it goes in different grades and he was classed as severe.”

After speaking to a number of further specialists the couple decided that the best hope for Reid in terms of correcting the flat area of his skull was to invest in a special helmet, not to protect Reid’s head but to restrict its growth in the areas that were correctly formed and allow for growth in the flattened area. It meant that the helmet would have to be especially made to fit Reid, and that was going to cost £ 2,050.

It became apparent that the couple needed some help to reach that figure and, after

FAMILY MATTERS 24 25

initially fundraising, they c ontac ted The Fire Fighters Charity to see if it c ould help them to reac h the total needed. Initially, howev er, neither Colin or Sadie was sure whether the Charity supported families.

“W

e didn’t really know muc h about the Charity or what it c ould do to help until I c ontac ted them to ask,” ex plains Sadie. “C olin donates ev ery month through a direc t debit v ia his work, and he has done sinc e he joined the Serv ic e, but it was only after I spoke to one of the c aseworkers there that I really realised that the Charity might be able to help us.

In all honesty, I would hav e thought that the Charity just supported injured firefighters, or anything that they needed help with, I didn’t realise that its serv ic es ex tended to family too.

“In all honesty, I would have thought that the Charity just supported injured firefighters, I didn’t realise that its services extended to family too.”

“W

e had done our own bit of fundraising, but just needed a little bit more help to get there. The proc ess was really easy and they [ the Charity] were really helpful. They were able to giv e us £ 1,200, whic h really helped us and allowed us to go ahead and order Reid’s helmet.”

O nc e the helmet had arriv ed and Reid had got used to wearing it, as well as to regular sessions with a spec ialist c hiroprac tor, the c hange in his mood was immediately ev ident, as Sadie ex plains: “H e had the helmet on for 22- 23 hours a day. W e would just take it off in the morning to giv e him a wash and his breakfast, and at night to giv e him a bath, but the rest of the time he had it on. It just bec ame normal, part of our ev ery day, but the differenc e it made to him was inc redible.

He was immediately so muc h happier and life with him was easier bec ause he was happier. He was sleeping better and all the things that you want a baby to be doing to make life easier.”

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Crucially, as well as ensuring that Sadie and Colin were able to enjoy time with a happy, more comfortable Reid, the helmet – which the couple got decorated with Disney characters – was slowly changing the shape of its incumbent’s head.

where it was flattest. e had it on from six months to 11 months, so for about four and a half months in total, and by the end of that time he only had 3mm of plagiocephaly, so it took it down by 13mm. This then took Reid into the normal range and he could take the helmet off. So it has made a huge difference and now his ongoing treatment just involves him going to the cranial chiropractor once a month, to get regular work done on his head and his back, just to make sure that his problems don’t come back again.”

“The way that it worked,” Sadie explains, “is that there was constriction around the parts of his head that were fine and perfectly formed, and no constriction around the parts of the head where it had to grow.

So when he naturally had a growth spurt it would grow to

Ensuring the long term health and wellbeing of their children is utmost in every parent’s mind and Colin and Sadie are no different, but reaching out for help can be hard, especially when that help is financial.

“Money can be a taboo subject,” admits Sadie, “and asking for

“It’s taken a lot of pressure off us as a family,” adds Colin. “We are able to enjoy time with him now.

As parents you always worry as to whether you are doing the right thing, but when you see a change like that and you know you are proactively doing something to help him, that’s just great.”

help is tough, so I struggled with that. When you’re on maternity leave and you don’t have as much money, we need the help and Reid’s needs came before ours, so that’s why we contacted the Charity. It wasn’t until we looked online that we realised that the Charity supports others like us.”

The Fire Fighters Charity’s Welfare Services team supports individuals, couples and families in the community, covering areas such as social care, advocacy, financial support, home adaptations and equipment provision and bereavement support. With a dedicated team of Welfare Caseworkers and volunteers, the Charity provides this life changing support across the UK, aiming to help families like Reid’s as quickly and efficiently as it can.

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“It just became normal, part of our every day, but the difference it made to him was incredible”

With that, Reid hops off his mum’s knee and makes his way over to a selection of toys that emit various musical noises and squeaks to distract the jabbering adults and refocus their attention on the important matter at hand, play time.

Call us

If you or one of your dependants may need help, like Reid, call us to find out how we can help.

0800 389 8820

MERCHANDISE WILL POWER

THE IMPORTANCE OF WRITING A WILL

Roddy MacLeod a Trustee of The Fire Fighters Charity and practising Lawyer in Scotland gives us the lowdown on the legalities of leaving a will and why it is so important to write one.

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s well as being a Trustee I am an advocate, which is the Scottish equivalent of a Barrister, so my dayto-day legal practice is focused on wills and succession. In my role I constantly see how important it is for people to know that they have provided for others upon their death.

Here are the answers to a few of the questions I am commonly asked: What is a will and why is it so important to write one?

A will is a document that expresses how you wish your estate to be distributed after your death.

During life, most people will acquire property, shares, savings, investments, as well as personal possessions. These assets are called your ‘estate.’

Writing a will ensures your wishes are carried out and that your estate will pass to your intended beneficiaries. If you have not written a valid will, you will have no say in what happens to your estate.

What if I already have a will?

That’s great, but because during our life we may encounter significant changes to our family circumstances or estate, it is generally recommended you review your will regularly to make sure it reflects your wishes.

I would like to consider leaving a gift in my will to The Fire Fighters Charity. How do I do that?

We would love you to consider leaving a gift in your will to our Charity. It doesn’t matter how much you give, all gifts are important to us and make a difference. You do not need to inform us of any gift you may intend leaving but if you do, we would like to thank you and keep you informed about our work, so don’t forget to tell us if you move or change your email address, so we can continue to send you Shout! and our other communications.

So, how do you write a will?

Of course, if you do decide to pledge a gift to The Fire Fighters Charity and to tell us, this information is personal to you and we won’t share it. There is also no need to tell us if your personal circumstances change.

You should always start by seeking professional legal advice because your will will have important legal effects.

If you do write a will without expert legal advice it could result in complications that might prevent your wishes from being carried out.

To update your contact details please contact our Customer Care team on 01256 366566 or supportercare@ firefighterscharity.org.uk.

Alternatively you can contact Lisa Matthews our Trusts and Legacy Manager at legacies@ firefighterscharity.org.uk

VIDEO: Why make a will?

Roddy has also made a video guide about the importance of writing a will. You can watch it on our website via the following link: www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/wills We also have a will making booklet with further details, if you wish to receive a copy you’ll find a link to order one on the same website link: www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/wills

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#MY75MILES

My Mind and Body Miles Watch Manager, Mark Schofield, explains why taking on the My75Miles challenge has helped him to come to terms with his PTSD.

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#MY75MILES

H

aving worked as a retained firefighter for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service for the past 32 years, Wotton-underEdge Watch Manager, Mark Schofield, has seen his role and his Service evolve significantly, and attended more incidents than he could possibly care to recall.

“When I joined we wore the plastic trousers that melted when they got too hot and the basic cork helmet,” he recalls when Shout! meets with him for a photoshoot near to his Gloucestershire home. “I remember when I first joined I went to the station and the Watch Manager told me to get up the ladder, then crawl through a tunnel with a BA set on, then do a few other drills and then that was it. He said ‘you’re in’.”

A committed firefighter, Mark has enjoyed his years on the job, reflecting fondly on much of his career and the positive memories he has of shared experiences with past and present colleagues. However, Mark also admits freely that the cumulative effect of the countless incidents he has attended over the years has

being asked why things weren’t done and I would make up excuses.

had an impact on his mental health and wellbeing. An impact that he is currently experiencing today.

“As a firefighter you have a good idea of what you’re going to experience but what you can’t always be prepared for is how it will affect you,” he explains. “Whenever you go to an incident involving a person it affects you, and you find different ways to cope with it.”

Balancing life as a retained firefighter with his other commitments meant that Mark’s struggles with the memories, sights and sounds of the incidents he attended inevitably impacted on his job working for the council as an Estates Manager, although it took him some time to realise the connection and its significance.

“Over a three-year period I thought life was just getting complicated and difficult,” he says. “It wasn’t until the beginning of last year [2017] that things started to get worse.

I started to come home from work for longer periods than I should. When I was at work I was unable to properly focus and complete tasks. It started to affect my daily job as I would forget tasks and not be able to answer phone calls. I was constantly in my boss’s office

“On the fire service side, I just lost interest, whereas usually I’m overly keen. Day to day jobs at the station weren’t being completed on time and I was letting things slip through the net. When I got back home I would just sit and stare. Again, nothing was getting done, I just couldn’t be bothered. I couldn’t sleep at night, so I would sleep at lunch times or early evening which then didn’t help at night, which became a vicious circle. Certain noises, sounds and smells would give me flashbacks, making it hard to ever properly relax.”

Mark began to feel constantly ill and started to experience crippling chest pains, causing him to fear that he was going to have a heart attack. The panic he felt was all consuming.

However, after examination, Mark’s GP told him that his chest was fine and she asked him instead about his general wellbeing. It was at this point that Mark broke down and he was eventually diagnosed with PTSD. He was signed off work and off duties and began a course of medication to help him control his symptoms. However, a colleague recommended another route, as he explains:

“I knew about the Charity from the day I first joined the Service and I’ve known many firefighters who have received support from them for physical injuries. I’ve donated money to the Charity through my wages over the past 32 years. I have raised money through car washes and the carol float at Christmas, but I didn’t think of the Charity at first when I was struggling. It was our Occupational Health advisor that recommended that I got in touch. I knew about the support they provided for physical injuries, but I hadn’t thought of it for mental health support.

That’s part of the reason I want to share my story to let others know that they are here to help and the support they provide is first class.

“I contacted the Charity myself online and they got straight back in touch with me and I had a telephone assessment. Then they recommended a week long programme which would be tailored to meet my needs. I took up the opportunity and this was the start of my recovery.”

Mark’s personalised programme of support saw him attending a week of blended physical activity and psychological support at Harcombe House in Devon, an experience he believes has helped him to turn his life around.

“Certain noises, sounds and smells would give me flashbacks, making it hard to ever properly relax”

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#MY75MILES

“I’m doing the My75Miles challenge for the Charity to raise money and give something back, but it is also part of my therapy” “Even though I did the fundraising I never realised how much support the Charity actually provided,” he says. “I thought it was just there to help if you broke your leg, or was somewhere you can go for some R&R if needed. Going to one of the centres for myself has opened my eyes to how much support they provide.

“It isn’t just about counselling and therapy sessions. They provide you with loads of great health information and advice on topics like exercise, nutrition, sleep and day to day stress. I cannot thank all the staff at the Charity enough for their fantastic help and support.

“After nine months off work, medication and the Charity’s support I was ready to return to work earlier this year. After a visit to Occupational health they suggested I may benefit from further support from the Charity as they could see how far I had come. I got back in touch with the Charity and they arranged another week for me. This week included three days of oneto-one psychological support sessions which helped put my demons to rest.

“I’m not too sure how it all works, but it does.

During each session I felt totally drained, but my anxiety levels started to decrease and so did the pains in my head and chest, which was where I stored my anxiety. After day three of an hour session a day I was totally relieved of any anxiety

or flashbacks. And now my demons are locked away.”

Also a keen runner, Mark has strapped on his trainers to help in his recovery and to raise money for the Charity’s #My75Miles anniversary challenge.

“Taking up running was one of the suggestions that came from the conversations I had with my Psychological Therapist,” he explains. “The exercise releases endorphins and helps to clear your mind and makes you feel much better. Now that it’s summer I love going out early in the morning when it is quiet and running in the hills. There’s also loads of wildlife about in the mornings, there’s loads of deer in the forests where I run. I’m doing the My75Miles challenge for the Charity to raise money and give something back, but it is also part of my therapy and it has had a big, positive impact on my health.

“I just can’t say enough good things about the Charity. They have helped so much and it’s so great that they are there to support us and to get us back on the run. I would encourage everyone to take on their own My75Miles challenge and try to raise a bit of money, you can do it at your own level and own pace and it’s great for your health, both physical and mental.”

You can watch a video where Mark talks about his experience and his #My75Miles Challenge on our website at www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/ My75MilesMark

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FIREFIGHTING FIT

A social enterprise Welfare Services Lead, Carrie Donohue, explains why people sometimes need to reach out to the Charity for support in their own homes.

In this, The Fire Fighters Charity’s 75th year, it has been good to reflect on the roots of our organisation, as well as on the work we are doing today. Back in the 1940s we supported the widows and families of firefighters killed during the Second World War, providing grants and support to those who had lost a loved one, when they needed it most.

Of course the Charity has evolved hugely since then, growing to meet the varied needs of the modern day fire services community.

However, we still retain a close alignment to our wartime roots and, although we thankfully aren’t having to support hundreds of bereaved families every year,

we are working hard to support as many people as we can in their own homes today.

I lead the Charity’s welfare services team, a dedicated cohort of caseworkers and volunteers who work across every corner of the UK, assisting beneficiaries where we can to meet their needs when they have nowhere else to turn. It’s an incredibly varied role and my team work with people facing all kinds of concerns and worries, from poverty to bereavement, home adaptations to help with accessing support services in local communities. Every day is different and every person unique.

My team works closely with others across the Charity to ensure that each beneficiary’s support is specifically tailored to meet their need. To that end, no one’s journey or experience with us is the same. However, your journey could typically begin by picking up the phone to call us on 0800 389 8820. From there our Customer Care team will go into a bit more detail with you. Your case and your needs will be reviewed by our clinical, mental health and welfare teams who will work together and in partnership with you to ensure that all support options are considered.

If support in your own home is deemed suitable then my team will come into play,

working with you to make sure that you have all the advice, information and support you need to move forward in your life. Our caseworkers and volunteers can do this through a broad range of means including telephone, online, email and face-to-face support.

It might be, for example, that we can help you with advice on benefits over the phone, or we may come to visit you in your home to help you with a financial assessment and funding for home adaptations.

The team is hugely experienced and by taking the time to talk things through, we can help you find a solution which can ease the pressure, relieve the burden and allow you to get back to living your life. Call us to find out more.

How we helped Chris Wardman On the 13 April, 2013 Chris Wardman was refereeing a five-a-side football match when he experienced sudden crippling chest pain and within a few hours suffered paralysis from the chest down. Chris was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a neurological condition that attacks the spinal cord.

Whilst in hospital Chris was visited by a caseworker form the Welfare Services team who supported him with an application to Jubilee House for rehabilitation and with the provision of a mobility scooter.

Since that initial visit in hospital we continue to support Chris and he recently attended a spinal

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cord injuries week at Jubilee House. Whilst there he was introduced to the Batec hand bike’ a specialist wheelchair attachment that enables greater independence and is designed for use in varying terrain. On his return home we supported Chris with a financial contribution towards a ‘Batec hand bike’ of his own. The Batec means that Chris is no longer reliant on his family for assistance. They go for days out together, enjoying bike rides and family holidays.

Chris said of the support: “It has quite literally changed my life in a positive way; I can now look forward to things instead of avoiding them.”

Riding the retirement rollercoaster Psychological Therapist AJ Whitaker discusses retirement, the positives, the pitfalls and why psychological planning is an important part of the retirement process.

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ost people’s idea of retirement planning centres around their need for financial security once they give up work, planning ahead to ensure that they have enough in their pension pots to enjoy a utopian retirement once they give up the nine-tofive. However, retirement is a life changing adjustment with implications that stretch far beyond the fiscal.

If you are nearing retirement yourself then you will undoubtedly spend time reminiscing on the major role that work has played in your life, but as you count down the weeks and months leading up to the big day have you thought about what retirement may mean for you? Are you looking at your retirement as an escape from a stressful work environment that has consumed your physical and psychological energy, or will it be

an opportunity to pursue hobbies or passions that are already part of your life?

the activities you are interested in, to have fun and to achieve a greater life satisfaction.

With the last working day marked on the calendar and farewell celebrations with colleagues booked, it can be an exciting time. A new routine beckons with time to follow the passions and pastimes of life outside work, without having to squeeze them around the office.

Ahead there lies time to pursue

However, despite the perception of this new, post-employment idyll, retirement can bring with it a sense of loss or grief for many.

The change from being a valued member of an organisation to the realisation that you are just a number can be hard to come to terms with. The sense of purpose and meaning that work

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FIREFIGHTING FIT

values, do they have a volunteer network or opportunities on an ad hoc basis. Local newspapers, internet searches and talking to people can all help form a picture of what may be available to you to keep this purpose in your life. Professional development is also standard practice in working life, so why not consider transferring this into retirement and study something you are interested in, or developing existing or new skills to find a different purpose in your new life.

Relationships

“Retirement is a new beginning and a great opportunity to start caring for your own health” gave you no longer exists and for some this becomes an emotional crisis with a loss of identity.

Whether you chose to retire or had retirement imposed upon you due to poor health or other circumstances, you could well be left feeling that you are outside the normal workforce, on the edge and isolated. Unsurprisingly, this can have a negative impact upon your psychological wellbeing. Similarly, retirement gives us time to think and to reflect back on issues and memories from our working life, which may in turn come back to haunt us in unexpected ways. So, are you prepared and would you know how to manage this if it happened to you?

In recent times the retirement age has become so flexible that this significant transition can be viewed as a shift to a new phase of life rather than into old age. Having some clear and realistic expectations about how retirement might look and evolve can help. Here are some ideas and strategies to think about:

Self-identity With the change in your personal status from valued colleague to retiree, you may feel a sense of loss, diminished self-

esteem or a lack of confidence. If your identity and purpose was wrapped up in your work role, which no longer exists for you, how can you re-orientate and build a new identity? The skills you had at work and in life are still valuable and transferable to areas outside the work arena. My advice would be to make a list of the skills, knowledge and experience you have, or if you find this difficult then ask a trusted friend. When you joined the workforce you may have written a CV outlining your qualifications and skills for the job, but perhaps now is the time to write a slightly different CV acknowledging who you are today and your value.

Don’t forget to give yourself some time to process reflections, thoughts and emotions too. Be patient with yourself as you move into this next phase of your life and re-explore who you are.

Meaning and purpose If helping others or supporting a service that helped others was the underlying reason you worked for an organisation and is still important to you, consider whether you wish to continue this theme in your retirement and how you can build that into your life. Start to look at other organisations or charities that have similar

Shout!

The way you spent time with those closest to you while you worked will have inevitably been framed around your work-life routine. Once you retire you may therefore have to re-learn how to live together. Take time to talk about your different expectations and dreams.

This is valuable, especially if one of you is still working, and can help you to jointly negotiate simple daily chores such as who will cook, wash up, clean or shop.

Before you retire, plan in a few miniretirement breaks where work is banned and you can both explore how retirement will feel.

Other people’s expectations of your time is also worth discussing prior to retirement. Family may be expecting childcare for school holidays, or after school in term time. Talk this through and be honest and realistic about what you will commit to and what you will be saying no to. Friends may similarly expect you to comply with their requests and expectations, but their timeframes may not match yours. Talk, communicate and negotiate the boundaries and build flexibility into your plans.

Social networks One of the best ways to look after your psychological wellbeing once you retire is to keep connected with people. Having social networks both in and outside the work environment can pay big dividends.

As retirement approaches think about how many of your friends are work colleagues. As you leave work will most of your friends remain behind? There maybe sincere intentions of keeping in touch, but as those who remain keep busy will

FIREFIGHTING FIT

you be forgotten as you forgot those who retired before you? Cultivating a social network outside the work environment and closer to home can seem daunting, especially when time and energy have been limiting factors, but having a nonwork social network can open up whole new avenues in your life. Old friends who you have lost touch with are a good place to start, having a shared history of some kind can reduce the anxiety around new social connections. Use technology to look for local clubs or organisations that you may be interested in joining. There can be a level of social anxiety around meeting new people which is normal, starting with a shared interest can reduce some of this and make it easier to start a conversation.

Leisure and hobbies Unstructured time will now be the major part of your day. How are you going to fill that void? Plan some activities, think about aims and goals for the short and long term. For example, did you always want a dog but could never fit it around work? Check your local area for volunteer dog walkers to see if this is still something you would like to do and wish to commit to. Or how about learning a new skill; painting, cooking, photography, creative skills, gardening, surfing, abseiling or a new language. Check out online courses, local colleges or local volunteer groups, do something that makes a difference for both you and your community. This will get you out on a regular basis, connecting with others, building confidence, selfesteem and helping you renegotiate who you are.

going; lots of veg, Mediterranean style foods, one or two biscuits instead of the usual half a packet. If possible eat three balanced meals in the day and increase the time between your last meal and bedtime to aid sleep. Moderate your alcohol intake and be aware of how much and easy it is to drink the odd glass of wine or beer every day. With more time available there is opportunity to include exercise of some description each day. Walking, gardening, jobs at home, keeping the t.v. off and keeping mobile and active, there is so much available for free. The combined effects of living well can significantly improve your sense of wellbeing, so if you haven’t spent much time caring for your own health, start now!

Psychological health

can affect how we perceive ourselves. Is this how you are now viewing yourself?

If so, you can change that perception.

Look for a positive in each day and what you have enjoyed. If you find this difficult perhaps look at what has been neutral or manageable each day.

Focus on what you want to be and do in the years ahead, set yourself some aspirational targets, research how to get there and build some stepping stones to your aspirations in to your weekly life.

Take time to talk to and listen to others too. Young adults have transitioned from teenagers into adult workers and may have experienced similar thoughts to yourself in regards to their fundamental life change, so have a chat with them and listen. Looking after your psychological health is just as important as physical health and you deserve some time and effort spent on each.

It is normal to experience a wide variety of thoughts, feelings and emotions before and following retirement; relief, joy, loss, boredom, low mood, anxiety with memories of work coming back to remind you of the pre-retirement days. If it begins to feel confusing or unsettling there are ways in which you can help yourself. Coping strategies that you previously used may be of help now; keep busy, help others, exercise. Try to speak to old colleagues who have already experienced the transition from work to retirement to see how they felt and how they managed. Society may negatively stereotype those who have retired as old or past their best, and this

Each one of us will experience this next phase of our lives differently. Individual histories and resources; relationships, social networks, physical health, leisure interests, psychological health, selfidentity and the meaning and purpose you bring to retirement means that retirement will bring a unique adventure for each one of us. Find and plan your own path and include some psychological planning. If you are struggling, talk to someone; this can help you to understand your situation and prevent some of the negative thoughts. If you are in any doubt look up the age of the oldest UK female abseiler, Doris Long. It is never too late to try something new.

Physical health Retirement is a new beginning and a great opportunity to start caring for your own health, starting with your sleep, nutrition and activity levels. Sleep can help your brain and body, ensuring they have time to recover and repair from the day’s activities. It can also help to improve mood, relieve stress and anxiety. Balanced nutrition and healthy eating have been promoted widely but can be tricky in a busy working life. Now is the time to re-evaluate your eating habits. Small changes are easier to keep

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FIREFIGHTING FIT

Game of Carbs Exercise Therapist Jamie Perryman discusses healthy carbohydrate alternatives that won’t leave you craving white bread and pasta.

Here is a list of common carbohydrate foods and their potential alternatives: White bread – Multi seed bread Corn flakes – Oats Sponge cake – Fruit cake Digestive biscuits – Oat Hobnobs White sugar – Honey White rice – Brown rice/Quinoa rice/Cauliflower rice White pasta – Brown pasta/

Quinoa pasta/Vegetable pasta e.g. corgetti Pizza dough base – Cauliflower base Chips – Butternut Squash Wedges/Avocado/Carrot/ Courgette fries Lasagne sheets – Sliced Courgette/Aubergine sheets Mash Potato – Cauliflower/ Broccoli mash Burger buns – Portobello Mushroom buns

Jamie’s Aubergine Lasagne Every year it seems a new fad diet sweeps its way across social media and into mainstream society, promising to make us healthier or help us to shed pounds. A few years back it was the Atkins diet, a low carb diet devised by American physician Dr Robert Atkins, that proved popular across the globe. Atkins argued that cutting out carbohydrates – the body’s primary source of energy – meant that it utilised more fat, the body’s secondary source of energy instead, leading to weight loss. However, diets like Atkins’ can result in fatigue, mood swings, lack of focus, increased hunger and even cause damage to the body. Reducing carbohydrate intake essentially means reducing mineral, vitamin and fibre intake which will in turn lead to complications such as chemical imbalances and constipation, so we need to carefully consider our overall

diet before deciding to reduce or cut out carbohydrates from it.

Ingredients

Carbohydrates are significant to our diet and health, making up the majority of our food intake, with each of us chomping down approximately 310g every day. Energy is absorbed from carbohydrate and increases the level of blood sugar in our bodies, triggering the secretion of insulin to transport this energy. This important aspect of human physiology is even more significant for individuals with diabetes due to their resistance to or inability to produce insulin.

1 clove of garlic

While those with diabetes or other diet-affected conditions should always seek advice if looking to adjust their diet, there are safe ways for most of us to tweak our carbohydrate intake. For example, there are more efficient alternatives to the majority of commonly consumed carbohydrate, most of which taste just as good.

3 large Aubergines Thyme/Oregano 5 Tablespoons Olive Oil 1 Red Chilli 2 Tins of Chopped Tomatoes 1 Tablespoon of White Wine Vinegar 1 Onion 150g Cheddar Cheese 70g Parmesan Breadcrumbs Pinch of salt Pinch of Pepper Basil Method • Slice aubergine into ½cm sheets and grill on medium heat for 5/6 minutes until browned • Meanwhile dice onion, crush and slice garlic and chop chilli, thyme/oregano • Put 4 tablespoons of olive oil

Shout!

into pan and cook onion, garlic, chilli and thyme/oregano • Pour in the chopped tomato. Let it heat until boiled then simmer on low heat for 15 minutes • Add 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar to pan and stir • Add a pinch of salt, pepper and a small handful of chopped basil then stir • Take pan off hob and spread small layer of sauce onto bottom of oven dish • Grate and add the parmesan and 50g of cheddar cheese onto sauce and cover with sliced aubergine slightly overlapping one another • Repeat last procedure and cover with rest of aubergine followed by rest of sauce • Cover sauce with last 50g cheese and breadcrumbs • Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil over breadcrumbs • Insert dish into oven for 30 minutes at 190°C/375°F until golden and serve

FIREFIGHTING FIT

The reality of menopause Psychological Therapist Liese Weatherspoon discusses managing transition and the impact it can have on women’s lives.

Menopause is a universal biological phenomenon that all women will experience at some point in their life.

For many women experiencing the physical and/or psychological symptoms of transition, the process of navigating such uncharted waters can be monumental. It is vital therefore that menopause is taken seriously and that women are given clear guidance and information regarding how best to manage their symptoms.

It is estimated that at any one time in the UK, 13 million women aged approximately 50 years old will be menopausal.

Eighty percent of these women experience symptoms, and for 25% of that figure the symptoms may be severe. Despite this, it should not be automatically assumed that menopause is a universally negative experience.

Indeed, some women view this pivotal point in their life as a positive experience, taking the opportunity to place child bearing years and/or menacing menstruation behind them.

In the UK, the average age of the transition is 51, but this varies widely depending on factors such as ethnicity and lifestyle. Additionally, premature menopause affects one in 100 women under the age of 40, some may be launched into this transition early because of hormone-dependent cancer or gynaecological conditions.

Menopause and Symptoms Menopause is the biological stage during which a woman stops having menstrual periods as she reaches the conclusion of her natural reproductive life.

The decrease in oestrogen levels often causes affected women to complain of symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and palpitations. In addition to this, women may experience vaginal dryness or low sexual desire, which can negatively impact intimacy and the relationship between couples. Other disparate symptoms may include headaches, neck and backache, bloating, breast discomfort, difficulty sleeping, fatigue and weight gain.

With such physical upheaval

it is no wonder that affected women may suffer emotional effects including mood swings, which may result in them becoming psychologically unwell. These symptoms can result in loss of self-esteem and other underlying issues that many would not think to attribute to menopause, such as depression, anxiety, and even in extreme cases suicidal ideation.

Additionally, some women experience feelings of grief for their youth and loss of fertility and/ or an unfulfilled ambition of having children. This is worsened by the fact that for many, menopause coincides with the time at which teenage children leave the family home, or elderly parents become unwell or pass away.

Management of symptoms When it comes to managing menopausal symptoms, there are many options available to women. In 2015, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) introduced the first guideline on menopause to raise awareness and understanding of transition, and to stop women suffering in silence. The report included guidance on determining whether menopause has started, along with the drug and non-drug treatment options that may assist with physical and psychological symptoms. It also clarified the potential benefits and risks of taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

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Adopting a healthier lifestyle which includes a reduced alcohol intake, adequate sleep and participation in exercise such as yoga, walking outdoors or other forms of physical exercise may also be of help.

What is clear is that the topic of menopause, and the significant impact it can have on women’s lives, should in no way be underestimated or dismissed. As a psychological therapist, I would encourage anyone experiencing physical and/or psychological indicators related to menopause to seek professional support and guidance, especially if it is having a significant impact upon their daily lives within the workplace and at home. No one should feel alone or suffer in silence.

For further information NICE guideline, Menopause: diagnosis and management: www.nice.org.uk/ guidance/NG23 Menopause Matters: www. menopausematters.co.uk Menopause - Treatment - NHS: www.nhs.uk/ conditions/menopause/ treatment The British Menopause Society: thebms.org.uk/

SHOUT+

Shout+

Retire, renew, refresh, review and rewind

TAYLOR MADE SUCCESS to organise and sometimes you wonder if anyone is going to turn up, but when you’ve got a good result and you’ve had a good day it gives you real satisfaction.”

Retirement as a full-time firefighter hasn’t stopped Jasper from staying involved with the fire service and continuing to support The Fire Fighters Charity. He now has a retained contract with his local Portchester Fire Station and also a part-time contract with Community Inclusion in the Portsmouth Group at Southsea.

Jasper receiving his Supporter of the Year Award at the Spirit of Fire Awards 2018 Kevin ‘Jasper’ Taylor won an award at Spirit of Fire in recognition of his fundraising achievements over his 30-year career with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. Here, in his own words, he talks about his long involvement with the Charity and his plans since retiring as a full-time firefighter last year.

“My role with the Charity started on the watch doing all the things that we normally do, like open days and fundraising events.

We knew that when people were ill the Charity was a place they could go. Other than that, in the first few years, I didn’t know a great deal more. It wasn’t until my daughter was diagnosed with an illness that the Charity helped me. There came a time when I thought that I do actually need a helping hand, and it was fantastic. The Charity was there and they helped me, my daughter and my family when

we really needed it. Of course that made it easier for me and my family, which made it easier for me to come to work.

“That’s where it [Jasper’s fundraising] started and from that point onwards it was about doing something to pay a little bit back, and then a little bit more, and then it became a passion I suppose. I was organising things and encouraging people to join in, and that was it. Nearly 30 years has passed doing that.

“It’s all been about raising funds for The Fire Fighters Charity, but it’s also been about raising awareness amongst new people who join the service and amongst the general public, who may not previously have thought about how our jobs can lead to illness and injury.

“In short, the events we run tick a lot of boxes. We get the message across about the Charity and we raise great

funds, but we also give fire safety advice, create good PR and really engage well with the local community. So it’s not just about raising money and I like it because it engages the guys at work.

“It makes you feel good to do these things, they’re hard work

“The Community Inclusion roles started about 10 years ago… It’s really about doing the community things that we do on the watches anyway and looking for opportunities to further that, reaching out to the harder to reach groups, the more vulnerable groups and individuals and people from different cultures, and giving them safety messages that are really quite bespoke to them.”

These part-time roles have meant that he is still very much a part of the fire and rescue community after retiring from full-time duties.

While on probation Jasper was chosen to pose with the latest thermal lance technology

Shout!

“Since I’ve left I’ve still been involved in activities and I’m still retained at my local Portchester Station, so I help to organise events there and I’m still involved in the Portsmouth group because I’ve still got connections there. So I assist when I can, and anything that happens in the community I tend to get involved.

“My role is slightly different to what it was when I was a

SHOUT+

Jasper giving the Mayor a demonstration at the Basingstoke Fire Station open day in 1988 firefighter on a watch. I’m still engaged with the guys on the watch and at the station but I’m not actually part of that watch anymore.”

“The nearer you get to it, retirement can get scary. You probably feel younger than you think you’re going to feel when you get to that point. When you’re 20, you think about someone who is 50 or 60 and you think they’re really old. But now I’m 60, I might have a few aches and pains, but I don’t want to give up. I want to keep doing things. What I continue to do within the fire service and with The Fire Fighters Charity gives me a good purpose and I really enjoy doing it, and I think it inspires other people to just keep doing things.

“I know some of my colleagues have struggled once they’ve got to retirement, they suddenly feel that loss because they’ve been in a close-knit group for the best part of 30 years and then that stops. Different people are more engaged than others, some people are very social and others aren’t, but it doesn’t matter who you are, once you retire and you have nothing else you could be at a loss for something to do.

“I think some people can be more isolated, and if they’re involved in some of these events, they still make contact with some of their colleagues and they’re still part of that fire service family. Some people don’t want to be, but many still want to be involved in something even if they just come along to help.

If you’re retired and would like to get involved in volunteering for the Charity and helping

at events you can find out more on our website: www. firefighterscharity.org.uk/

Jasper joining crews on a 23-seater bike that they used to fundraise for The Fire Fighters Charity

“When we have a fundraising event or a community event I’m with them and encouraging them to do things and we’re all working together and having a bit of fun. It’s good to be involved really.”

You can watch the video of this interview with Jasper on our website at www. firefighterscharity.org.uk/ kevintaylor

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT HARCOMBE VIEW CAFE The Harcombe View Café is a social hub at our Harcombe House Centre in Devon. The café is run by volunteers and the money it raises helps to fund our support services.

However, we’re in need of more volunteers to help with the running of the café.

The role involves serving barista-style coffees (training given) a variety of teas,

mouth-watering homemade cakes and delicious savoury snacks. If you’re interested in supporting the Charity by volunteering your time at the café, please contact Kate Harrison on 01256 368 866.

For Harcombe View Café opening times visit www. firefighterscharity.org.uk/ harcombeviewcafe

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

A Shout! from the past

Shout!

FROM THE ARCHIVES

To mark our 75th anniversary we’ve had a rummage around in our archives.

Here’s what Shout! looked like back in the autumn of 2010. We had just launched our page on a fancy new-fangled website called Facebook and Sir Bruce Forsyth had made an appearance at Spirit of Fire.

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COMPETITION

Win a Hotel Chocolat Classic Chocolate Cabinet

Hotel Chocolat has generously offered Shout! readers the chance to win The Classic Chocolate Cabinet.

A dramatic showcase of taste and texture featuring their finest recipes. Presented as a large box of chocolates this is the perfect gift for a loved one or for self-indulgence.

To win this great prize, simply send your answer to the question below, together with your name, address and a contact phone number to: shout@firefighterscharity.org.uk or Shout! Magazine, The Fire Fighters Charity, Level 6, Belvedere, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG. There’s also a six-month subscription to the Hotel Chocolat Tasting Club up for grabs in our Christmas Raffle. Tickets are available at www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/raffle.

What’s the total weight of textiles collected since we started our textile recycling programme back in 2009?

A) 12,000 tonnes B) 15,000 tonnes C) 18,000 tonnes

The winner will be picked at random from all correct entries received on or before 31 March 2019 and will be notified via email or telephone.

Product bundle content may vary. Your information: The information you provide will be used by the Charity to fulfil your request. Your details may be used to keep you informed about the Charity – please call 01256 366 566 if you do not wish us to contact you.

Shout!

Join our Call Out and Shout!TV mailing list and we’ll send you regular updates, news and offers from across the Charity, including: • Stories about the people we’ve helped • The latest Charity news • Upcoming fundraising events

• Special offers for our holiday breaks • New products added to our shop • Upcoming Shout!TV video updates

You can sign-up for Call Out and Shout!TV email updates online.

Visit www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/callout or call 01256 366 566.

Copyright © 2018 The Fire Fighters Charity. All Rights Reserved. The Fire Fighters Charity, Level 6. Belvedere, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG. Registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1093387) and Scotland (SC040096) Royal Patron Her Majesty The Queen

RUN IT, WALK IT, CYCLE IT or SWIM IT; this year we’re challenging you to take on 75 miles, any way you wish.

Join our 75th anniversary fundraising journey and help us support the fire service community for another 75 years.

Participate with friends, family and colleagues across the UK and help us to mark our 75th anniversary by signing up to #My75Miles.

A year-long challenge that’s accessible for all, whatever your fitness level.

Register today at: www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/my75miles

Copyright © 2018 The Fire Fighters Charity. All Rights Reserved. The Fire Fighters Charity, Level 6. Belvedere, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG. Registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1093387) and Scotland (SC040096)