**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.

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 via iTunes or Amazon today to support the charity’s mission.

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: Big Shaun and The Steel People – The Fire Safety Dance

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 health and wellbeing.”

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue is calling on young people aged 16 or under to submit their own attempts at the ‘Fire Safety Dance’ as part of the chart topping campaign.

“I’m putting up £100 of my own money as a prize for the best dance. You don’t need any dancing ability or if your mobility is limited, any movements are fine. All you need to do is send us a video of your dance, or tag us on social media before the chart is announced on 20 December,” said Andy.

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

Or watch the video here

Pre-order now: Big Shaun and The Steel People – The Fire Safety Dance

Watch the video here: (593) The Fire Safety Dance – Big Shaun and the Steel People for the Fire Fighters Charity – YouTube

Firefighters in South Yorkshire are aiming to become the first ever fire service to score a Christmas Number One – and raise vital money to support the mental health of firefighters across the country.

The song, Fire Safety Dance for the Fire Fighters Charity, has been created by a local band, Big Shaun and the Steel People, and celebrates the work that firefighters do day in, day out to keep the public safe.

The song, and accompanying video, is being released to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity which aims to help firefighters live healthier and happier lives, including extensive mental health support.

The video also includes a specially created dance by local dance school INK Dance.

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 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.”

Alex Byers, Regional Fundraiser at Fire Fighters Charity, says: “On behalf of everyone at Fire Fighters Charity, I want to wholeheartedly thank all those involved in South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for organising this fantastic fundraiser in aid of us.

“Members of our fire services community can face significant pressures every day, and we’re here to ensure they always have somewhere to turn for support, throughout their lives.

“The funds – and vital awareness – raised through this song, which has such a powerful message, will help us to continue to be there for thousands of them every year. Thank you.”

The bid for the Christmas Number One is the final part of the Service’s 50th year anniversary celebrations.

The single will be released on Friday 13 December, with the video available to view from today (Monday 9 December).

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue would like to thank Shaun and the Steel People, Pinders print & display, Ink Dance and Cuckoo Films for their support in this campaign.

Fire officers have welcomed a judgement upholding its decision to revoke an explosives storage licence in South Yorkshire.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue inspecting officers revoked the licence of a Mr John Hebdon in 2022, following concerns about the licensee’s ability to safely store fireworks at a site in Barnsley.

The decision to revoke the licence was upheld at an appeal hearing earlier this year at Sheffield Coroner’s Court, following two days of witness evidence provided by Business Fire Safety inspecting officers.

The court heard that Mr Hebdon routinely failed to store fireworks in accordance with the Explosives Regulations over a prolonged period of time and obstructed officers from carrying out their lawful duties on multiple occasions.

Now fire chiefs are reiterating their commitment to upholding fire safety legislation and protecting the work of their business fire safety inspection teams.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Andy Strelczenie, said: “We will not stand for people obstructing the work of our inspecting officers, who play such an important role in keeping local people safe. Unsafe sites also put our firefighters at risk, should an emergency occur.

“Explosives licence regulations, like all fire safety laws, are there to protect the public and prevent emergencies. Whilst we’ll always try to work with licence holders, we are not afraid to use our powers to take appropriate enforcement action and revoke licensees when the safety of firefighters and the public is placed at risk.”

With certain exceptions, an authorisation is required for the acquisition, keeping, transfer, storage and/or manufacture of explosives- including fireworks.

More information is available on the fire service website here.