South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

Another great shot 📸 from our 74th firefighter recruits course. Are you interested in becoming a firefighter? Find out how on our website here: https://lnkd.in/ef2Ti5mD Share this message to someone who might be interested

We have lots of opportunities available right now: 👩🚒 Crew and Watch Managers ⛑️ Health and Safety Advisor ✍️ Project Support Assistant 🖥 Community Safety Administrator Visit our jobs page to find out more (link in the comments) ✨️

Do you have a strong understanding of building fire safety? Can you communicate complex, technical information clearly to a range of audiences? We're looking for a District Manager to join our Building Regulations and Complex Building team. Does this sound like you? Hit the link in the bio for more details and to apply. Don't delay though, the application window closes on Friday 20 December!

**Content Warning - this post discusses topics around suicide** A South Yorkshire 999 operator has backed a charity campaign to raise money for mental health support which saved his life. Ruari Scates, a control room operator with South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, struggled with his own mental health following big life changes and bereavements.  Now he is backing a charity single which aims to raise money for Fire Fighters Charity, which supports the wellbeing of fire service staff like him.  Ruari said: “Before joining South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, I struggled with depression and low mood, attributing it to bereavements and the strain of working night shifts. Joining the service in early 2024 felt like a new beginning, but six months in, I was overwhelmed by feelings of 'impostor syndrome' and the stress of a house move." “At a particularly low point, I reached out to Fire Fighters’ Charity's helpline, a resource provided during my induction and reinforced through awareness days held by the fire service. "The emergency counselling sessions I received were a lifeline. They not only saved my life, but also spared my family and friends from the potential fallout of my struggles. For the first time, I felt truly supported and able to overcome my negative mindset. I am a better person today, and above all, I am still here because of the charity." The decision to seek help was driven by a fear of becoming a burden to their team and the awareness of the devastating impact of suicide, both personally and professionally. "I knew that if I didn't reach out, I could worsen my situation and affect my ability to serve the public. My family's experience with the consequences of suicide and my job's exposure to its impact made it clear that I couldn't allow myself to inflict the same distress." “The initial engagement with a counsellor was pivotal. The support and motivation I received during that first call encouraged me to follow through with the process and work towards bettering myself." "Almost everyone I know in the job has faced their own battles. Joining a men's mental health group for emergency workers highlighted the prevalence and complexity of these issues." “But from day one, the culture, training, and resources provided by the service have been exceptional. Having worked in environments where mental health was either ignored or superficially addressed, I feel incredibly fortunate to receive such high standards of care at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue. Every aspect of support is handled seriously and effectively, with training designed to prevent issues rather than react to them." Ruari is not alone. Poor mental health is a significant issue for many emergency service workers- and not just firefighters. Download ‘The Fire Safety Dance’ for 99p today to support the charity’s mission: https://lnkd.in/ehZpbbyE

Goodbye to Crew Manager Jim Lister who is retiring after 25 years’ service. Jim started at Ringinglow Road fire station- plus spells at Mansfield Road, Darnall, Rotherham, Dearne, and and our training centre. Jim has been a much valued and respected firefighter who will be greatly missed. He's pictured here with staff at Rotherham fire station. Wishing you a long a happy retirement, Jim!

Rock star Justin Hawkins has backed a bid to push a fire service charity single up the festive charts this Christmas. The irreverent rocker jokingly hopes ‘The Fire Safety Dance’ will reach number two when the official charts are published on Friday- behind The Darkness' own new track, also out this week. Lowestoft lead singer Hawkins, whose grandfather was a firefighter on London Fire Brigade iconic Massey Shaw fireboat, joins a growing list of big names to back the campaign. Bookies made ‘The Fire Safety Dance’ by Big Shaun and The Steel People third favourites for number one over the weekend- behind Wham! and Tom Grennan. But fire chiefs hope people power will propel the song to chart glory- with all money raised going to Fire Fighters Charity, which supports the health and mental wellbeing of fire service staff across the UK. Andy Strelczenie, Deputy Chief Fire Officer at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: “It’s incredible to think that South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue could make it to the top of the charts this Christmas- but we need people’s help to get us there. “The best part of it would be the amount of money that would have been raised for Fire Fighters Charity who do such important work to support firefighters with their health and wellbeing. “During their working hours, firefighters can be exposed to truly traumatic and difficult circumstances. It’s only in recent years that we’ve begun to appreciate how deeply this can affect our staff and what we can do to help them, and the Fire Fighter’s Charity are a big part of that.” The best way to get ‘The Fire Safety Dance’ to number one and raise money for charity is to download the song for 99p from Amazon or Apple’s iTunes Store. https://lnkd.in/ehZpbbyE

Content warning – this post discusses suicidal feelings A South Yorkshire woman has spoken of the mental health challenges faced by 999 operators, as she backs a campaign to raise money for a fire service charity. Aimie Seago says Fire Fighters Charity has been a beacon of hope many in the fire and rescue service, including its dedicated 999 control room operators. Now she is backing a charity single which aims to raise money for the charity, so it can help even more staff like her. Aimie said: "I have used Fire Fighters Charity for a range of issues- attending the charity’s Jubilee House support centre in 2018 after my mental health hit a low point and I had attempted to take my own life. I then attended the charity’s second support centre, Harcombe House, in 2023 after losing a close family member. “I spoke to one of the charity’s psychotherapists. She helped me enormously by talking through my issues, giving me her diagnosis and then advising and signposting my doctor on the next steps. "More recently, I attended a ‘Control Room’ week- a programme designed specifically for 999 Control room operators staff. It helped me get back on my feet after bereavement and to understand and implement a healthy work-life balance. "I feel there are a lot of Control operators within the fire and rescue service who struggle with their mental health. Although there are support services available to us within our local fire services, I feel more tailored support for Control like that offered by Fire Fighters Charity would be really beneficial.” South Yorkshire Fire & Resue has invested heavily in mental health support for its staff, including a 24/7 helpline and setting up peer-led support for firefighters following traumatic incidents. Fire Fighters’ Charity also plays a vital role by providing essential mental health support to firefighters. Their services, including online counselling, offer a lifeline to those in need, helping them to navigate their mental health challenges and build resilience. Download ‘The Fire Safety Dance’ for 99p today to support the charity’s mission: https://lnkd.in/ehZpbbyE

Can you help us get Fire Fighters Charity to Christmas number one? We've released a charity single- The Fire Safety Dance by Big Shaun and the Steel People. It's available from TODAY but we really need people to download the song for 99p to get up the charts and raise as much money as possible. The link to download the song is here: https://lnkd.in/ehZpbbyE

A Barnsley firefighter has backed a charity campaign to raise money for 999 mental health support. Dan Nortcliffe, a Watch Manager at Tankersley fire station, struggled with his own mental health following divorce and childhood bereavement. Now he’s calling on others to open up and seek the support of organisations like Fire Fighters Charity- which a push for the Christmas number one spot is trying to raise funds for. Dan said: "After my divorce and dealing with the death of my dad when I was just 10 years old, I found myself struggling with poor mental health. I wasn't feeling great about life and it was affecting my work and personal life. “Recognizing the need for support, our occupational health team recommended that I try the online counselling services provided by Fire Fighters Charity. I was hesitant at first, but I knew I needed help." Dan reached out to the charity and was connected with one of the charity’s counsellors, who made a profound impact on his journey to better mental health. "The counsellor was amazing. He helped me build my own coping mechanisms and provided a sense of stability that I desperately needed. One thing he said that will stick with me forever is, 'I'm not going anywhere, I'm here while ever you need me.' That assurance meant the world to me." Dan's story is not unique. Poor mental health is a significant issue for many emergency service workers, including firefighters. However, there is a growing recognition that it is okay to speak about these struggles. "We work in a service that has historically predominantly male-dominated, and in South Yorkshire, we were taught to 'man up.' But society is slowly realising that showing emotions doesn't mean we are weak. This applies to all firefighters, regardless of our differences." South Yorkshire Fire & Resue has invested heavily in mental health support for its staff, including a 24/7 helpline and setting up peer-led support for firefighters following traumatic incidents. Fire Fighters Charity also plays a vital role by providing essential mental health support to firefighters. Their services, including online counselling, offer a lifeline to those in need, helping them to navigate their mental health challenges and build resilience. Download ‘The Fire Safety Dance’ for 99p today to support the charity’s mission: https://lnkd.in/ehZpbbyE If you are affected by the information in this story you can call the Samaritans on any phone, at any time on 116 123.

Bookies have South Yorkshire firefighters ahead of Sabrina Carpenter and Sam Fender in the race for Christmas number one, after more than 130,000 people viewed a music video in less than 48 hours. The song, Fire Safety Dance for the Fire Fighters Charity, has been created by a local band, Big Shaun and the Steel People. It celebrates the work that firefighters do day in, day out to keep the public safe and aims to raise money to support the mental health of fire service staff. William Hill has made the song 33-to-one shots for the festive summit- well ahead of many international artists and early favourites for the coveted top spot. Andy Strelczenie, Deputy Chief Fire Officer at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: “It’s incredible to think that South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue could make it to the top of the charts this Christmas. “But the best part of it would be the amount of money that would have been raised for the Fire Fighters Charity who do such important work to support firefighters with their wellbeing." The bid for the Christmas Number One is the final part of the service’s 50th year anniversary celebrations. The single is officially released on Friday (13 December) or is available to pre-order now https://lnkd.in/ehZpbbyE