Partnerships and external funding are increasingly becoming key functions for Fire and Rescue services across the UK.

The introduction of Local Area Agreements and pooled funding arrangements have significantly impacted on the resources available to deliver community safety’s prevention and protection service improvement projects.

Previously South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) received grants directly from the Department for Communities & Local Government (CLG) to deliver a range of projects aimed at reducing arson and anti-social behaviour; for example raising awareness of safety in the home and through the provision of education programmes at all stages of the curriculum. However, as a result of pooled funding this grant is no longer ring-fenced for SYFR to deliver these projects.

Consequently, the need for a strategy and the introduction of systems and processes to build our knowledge, skills and capacity regarding partnerships and external funding has been essential to enable SYFR to capitalise on these developments.

Click here to view SYFR's Partnerships Strategy