The Fire Fighters Charity: Supporting Fire Fighters & Their Families

Fire fighters are constantly risking their lives to save ours, and in the process often experience injuries, stress, and emotional trauma. Sometimes this can even leave fire fighters unable to work.

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That’s where the Fires Fighters Charity steps in. In 2012-13 alone, the Fire Fighters Charity has supported 4,547 fire fighters, retired fire fighters, support staff, and their family members.

The Fire Fighters Charity’s services include three rehabilitation centers to help get people in the fire community back on their feet. Results from the recovery and rehabilitation centers provide evidence of the improvements to the attending fire fighters’ health and wellbeing. Some of the key statistics include:

• 6.5% improvement in mental health
• 2.4% increase in general health

Ged’s road to recovery

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service’s Watch Manager, Ged Phelan, turned to the Fire Fighters Charity when he found himself suffering from pain in his back and knee. Referred by the Occupational Health Service to the charity’s Jubilee House rehabilitation centre, Ged spent two weeks trying to get back on track.

Unexpectedly, stress was found to be the root cause of Ged’s physical pain. After only one session with a counselling-trained nurse, he says “…the nurse said it probably wasn’t my back that was the problem, but stress instead. I was suffering from depression and didn’t know.”

Within just six days of staying at the rehabilitation center, Ged felt improvements in his back and knee. He explains:

The fact that I had made my first breakthrough and talked about my problems lifted a huge weight that allowed me to move forward. I was humbled by how superb the facilities were.

The Fire Fighters Charity kept in touch with Ged after the stay, and discovered Ged was still experiencing physical pain from the stress a year later. The strain was in turn also extending to his family. This led to the charity arranging for both Ged and his family to stay at the Harcombe House, another one of The Fire Fighters Charity rehabilitation centers.

With all the support provided by the Fire Fighters Charity, Ged has managed to get back on track. He recently set up a support group for currently serving and retired fire fighters in his area to gain an understanding of services available to them.

Going forward

The whole fire community is able to receive support from the charity; this includes the children and families of fire fighters. This year alone, 22 families with children suffering from physical and mental disabilities were supported. Harcombe House gave these families a chance to relax, recover as well as have fun with those in similar situations.

The charity depends wholly on fundraising from its supporters to cover its annual running costs of GB pound 8 million (US$13 million). Some of the charity’s supporters include, Lawrence M Barry & Co, Chelsea Building Society, Gatwick Airport Community Trust, and The Saddlers’ Company.

You can also help the charity to continue its work and develop its services by visiting www.firefighterscharity.org.uk.