In 2017, Becky Dore’s mental health declined when she moved away from home to study for a specialist health care degree at university.

After leaving university, Becky was in a ‘dark place’ and was unsure what steps to take. She knew she wanted to work within the community and support people but didn’t know where to start. She felt lost.

Becky, who lives in Sheffield, then found the Prince’s Trust Team Programme where she enjoyed a full programme of study and work experience opportunities that have ultimately led her to gain her dream role as a Community Safety Administrator at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.

Now aged 25, Becky said that when she left university her confidence was low, and she didn’t know what to do. She felt helpless. But praises the Prince’s Trust Team Programme for turning her life around and getting her on the right path.

Becky said: “When I moved away for university, my mental health was really affected, and I knew it wasn’t right for me. They offered me no support at all, so I went home.

“After feeling disappointed and let down, I didn’t know what to do next. But then I found the Prince’s Trust Team Programme and they gave me the confidence to refocus myself to get on track.

“They encouraged me to be independent again and inspired me to work hard to achieve my goals. As well as completing theory and educational sessions, I also completed work experience in childcare and a school as I always wanted to work in the community.

“Before and during Prince’s Trust, I was dealing with many struggles and personal experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. I struggled with my confidence and struggled to apply myself to my best ability. I have now learned from my dark times and have found the strength to move on from them.

“I feel that John and the team leaders supported me in the best way possible and that the Prince’s Trust prepared me for life more than school, college, or university.”

Becky praises the course as ‘amazing and life changing’ and says the scheme has had a valuable impact on her life.

She said: “I can appreciate the value of participating in this amazing, life-changing course. It gave me so many opportunities and it has had a crucial and valuable impact on my life that has stayed with me till current day.

“The Prince’s Trust helped to develop my prospects and ambition and it gave me the confidence and insight into pursuing further careers.

“I made great friends and will always remember it as one of the best times I’ve had in my life.

Becky directly credits the Prince’s Trust Team Programme as the reason behind securing her role in the fire service.

“From attending workshops, gaining my first aid certificate, going on the residential, leading and completing the community project, undertaking work experience, graduating, and giving a well-applauded speech – I have used the course for many job interviews.

“After achieving so much and overcoming so many challenges on the course, I believe it is this what led me on the right path into the fire service.”

Becky highly recommends the course and encourages other people to enrol as it opens a vast range of opportunities in the real world.

“The Prince’s Trust was the first time I felt anyone had believed in me. I felt a huge inspiration from the leaders not only due to their efforts but due to the service’s reputation and I felt encouraged and trusted to be independent.

“I developed a lot from the course provisions and especially the one-to-one support I received from the leaders, through their encouragement and confidence in me.

“I have always been very passionate about the Prince’s Trust and advocate it for young people to take part in and to make the most of all the opportunities they provide.”

Are you 16-25 and inspired by Becky’s story? You can join more than 200 people who have more successfully completed the programme and you too can go on to achieve a great future.

The Prince’s Trust Team Programme is a 12-week personal development course for unemployed 16- to 25-year-olds, offering work experience, qualifications, practical skills, and community projects.

Individuals will gain new skills and qualifications, mix with new people and make new friends, get help with job-hunting and CV writing, and most importantly a big boost to their confidence and to gain a real sense of achievement.

The Team Programme is full-time, 9:30am – 3:30pm, Monday – Friday at Barnsley Fire Station, and is completely free and will not affect any benefits.

For more information contact princestrust@syfire.gov.uk

We have a number of station open days and car washes planned this year.

Below is a list of all the current stations holding an event.

Open Days

There are currently no open days planned.

Car Washes

• The car wash at Barnsley station (Saturday 21 October) has been cancelled due to the adverse weather

All charity car washes are in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity.

Calls for building owners to speed up fire safety remediation work have been backed by the county’s fire service.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue supports a joint statement from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and regulatory bodies which warns building owners that they need to get on with remediation work or face enforcement action.

“The DLUHC statement- issued jointly by the government, Building Safety Regulator, the Local Government Association and the National Fire Chiefs Council, says:

“Building owners have always been responsible for fixing fire safety defects in their properties.

“Even where funding for remediation work has been agreed by the government, some building owners are still stalling – preventing vital safety work from starting and damaging residents’ quality of life.

“Whilst we are pleased that a number of landlords have done the right thing and remediated their buildings, it is unacceptable that too many are still failing to make their buildings safe.

“We are united in our determination to ensure building owners comply with the law and remediate their defective buildings without delay. Local authorities and fire and rescue services are already taking enforcement against building owners who are dragging their feet. Since 2018, local authorities have taken enforcement action on over 200 high rise buildings; and fire and rescue services have also served over 250 enforcement notices. But there is still more to do.

“We welcome the legal powers provided by the Building Safety Act 2022 and remain committed to working together and supporting local authorities and fire and rescue services to use the full range of their enforcement powers to full effect. The Building Safety Regulator will start enforcing building safety in residential buildings above 18 metres or seven storeys in spring 2024. Those who have yet to remediate can expect early attention from the Building Safety Regulator.

“Building owners who are continuing to stall should know they are running out of time if they are to avoid being forced to act. With the implementation of the Building Safety Act’s new building safety regime and the imminent launch of the Building Safety Regulator, we are tightening the regulatory screw. Regulators will not hesitate to take enforcement action against building owners if they do not comply with their legal duties. Together, we will make sure there are consequences for building owners who fail to do the right thing and that those responsible make their buildings safe.”

Four new fire engines are responding to emergencies in South Yorkshire for the first time, in the first stage of a multi-million pound investment by the county’s fire and rescue service.

The £280,000 vehicles are greener, cleaner and more reliable than South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s existing fire engine fleet, which is nearing the end of its operational life.

The first four fire engines are to be based at Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Central (Sheffield) fire stations- with a further 24 fire vehicles on course to arrive over the next five years.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Tony Carlin, said: “The new vehicles represent the very latest best practice for the fire and rescue sector nationally- demonstrating our commitment to providing South Yorkshire’s firefighters with the best equipment possible.

“Cleaner engines and better fuel efficiency support our sustainability objectives, whilst wipe down cabs illustrate how seriously we take the issue of fire contaminants potentially affecting our frontline crews.

“Importantly, we will be keeping hold of some of our older vehicles as spares, as these new fire engines come into services. This will increase the resilience of our 999 response, should we face periods of exceptional demand- as we did during the heatwave last July.”

The new fire engines have been built by Yorkshire-based Angloco, with an all-aluminium body, Scania chassis and 320 horsepower engines.

They are fitted with Euro emission standard engines and are more fuel efficient than the existing fleet- thereby reducing their environmental impact.

The cabs are wipe clean- reducing the risk of toxic contaminants to firefighters.

Godiva pumps draw water from hydrants and vehicles are fitted with 22mm hose reels with selectable flow branches- allowing firefighters to get more than 230 litres of water per minute onto a fire.

New battery powered cutting gear is carried on each appliance- with the equipment more powerful and faster to use.

The delivery of the fire engines was delayed by a few months because of global supply chain issues affecting the vehicle manufacturing sector, but the remaining vehicles will now be delivered in batches of four in the coming months and years.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue has a fleet of 27 full-sized, frontline fire engines, spread across its 21 fire stations.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) has been recognised by the Ministry of Defence for its commitment to the armed forces community.

SYFR has been named a Silver award-winning organisation under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), delivered locally by the Reserve Forces & Cadets Association for Yorkshire & Humber.

The ERS consists of three award levels – bronze, silver, gold. Each level indicates an organisation’s commitment and involvement to offer support programmes that align with the scheme’s framework.

The main objective of the scheme is for employers to endorse their employees who are military personnel (current, former and associated) and enable development opportunities that support their current or past duty to the forces with their civilian employment. The scheme also encourages overall support of the general armed forces community.

Silver ERS Award winners will be celebrated regionally at an awards event in York in September.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Group Manager Mike Anthony, said: “At South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue we recognise the invaluable contribution members of the Armed Forces Community make. As a service we want to promote the fact we are a Armed Forces friendly organisation and being awarded the Silver award further celebrates all of the positive action we are taking in support of the Armed Forces community.”

Major General Marc Overton, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets) says: “I would like to thank and congratulate the recipients of this year’s Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Awards. A Silver award recognises the fantastic efforts of employers throughout the UK who have both elevated their communities under the Armed Forces Covenant and provided actual benefits to the Armed Forces Community. The winners should all be proud of their life-changing impact and fresh opportunities they are providing to our Reservists, veterans and their families. The number of winners this year yet again shows that the Armed Forces family talent pool is also providing tangible business benefits.”

ENDS

Staff from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue will be swapping fire helmets for swimming caps next week as they prepare to swim the equivalent of the perimeter of South Yorkshire (170 miles) to raise money for two incredible causes – The Fire Fighters Charity and The Royal Life Saving Society.

People from across the organisation, from frontline firefighters to corporate staff, have pledged that they will swim anything from 100 metres to several miles to support the Big SYFR Swim challenge which runs from 22-29 May.

Chief Fire Officer Chris Kirby said: “I’m really looking forward to swimming with my colleagues for such important causes.

“Sadly, people drown in our county every year. When these incidents occur it is incredibly traumatic for the family affected but also their community and our firefighters who attend in such distressing circumstances.

“Every life lost is one too many. That’s why we decided to support the Royal Life Saving Society and the work they do in helping people learn how to swim and enjoy the water safely.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK has a proud history of helping to reducing the number of lives lost to drowning.

Their mission is to be the leader in lifesaving and lifeguarding in the UK and Republic of Ireland, aiming to give everyone the potential to save lives and enjoy water, safely.

“I’m delighted that we are also supporting the Fire Fighters Charity who do such amazing work for firefighters and their families across the UK.”

The Fire Fighters Charity offers specialist, lifelong support for members of the UK fire services community, empowering individuals to live happier and healthier lives.

The charity supports serving fire service personnel and their families as well as those who are retired and provides them with information, advice and support whenever they need it.

You can donate to the Big SYFR Swim here.

Visit our website for more information about how to enjoy water, safely.

Our Chief Fire Officer has responded to today’s report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) on values and culture in the fire service nationally.

Chief Fire Officer Chris Kirby, said: “The HMICFRS report on values and culture makes difficult reading for anyone working in the fire and rescue service. It shouldn’t need saying- but there is absolutely no place for the negative behaviour and attitudes described in the report in any modern workplace.

“We have clear policies in place on bullying, harassment and discrimination and regularly work with staff networks and representative bodies to improve these. We also have a well-established set of staff behaviours which we expect all our people to follow.

“But we must never be complacent. That’s why we will be reviewing this new report in detail and looking to implement improvements to our own service where appropriate.

“We aspire to be a great place to work where everyone can be themselves. We will be using the findings of this report to further support our work towards this.”

A South Yorkshire recruitment campaign aims to change perceptions of women in the fire service.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s ‘A Firefighter Is A Firefighter’ campaign includes a new hard-hitting video, which highlights the fact that all firefighters meet the same standards and do the same job – regardless of their gender.

At the same time the service will be publishing a fresh episode of its official podcast, Shout, featuring women from across the service.

The service hopes the campaign can inspire more women across South Yorkshire to consider a role in the fire service.

Chief Fire Officer Chris Kirby, said: “I sincerely hope that women across South Yorkshire will listen to our podcast, watch our video, and consider registering their interest in a career with us.

“It’s hugely important that our workforce represents the communities we serve. We want to be an organisation that boasts a wide range of skills and delivers a first class service to the public, and we can’t do that without employing a brilliant, diverse range of people.”

The culture of the fire and rescue service has been in the news recently, with allegations made about the conduct of a minority of staff at services across the UK.

“Having worked in the sector myself for over 20 years, it’s extremely disappointing to hear about the poor experiences some people have had working in the fire and rescue service. Whilst I am confident that the vast majority of staff in South Yorkshire are committed to our values and behaviours, we accept and acknowledge that we are part of a sector which has work to do.

“We have already taken lots of steps internally, in the wake of the recent national findings and news stories, and something that I am keen to do is stress to people across South Yorkshire that we are an inclusive and welcoming organisation to join,” said Chris.

The campaign has been launched to coincide with International Women’s Day.

Last year, South Yorkshire became the first UK fire and rescue service to produce and display a ‘Women of Fire’ exhibition – displaying a range of portrait photographs in person at the Winter Gardens in Sheffield, and online via a dedicated website.

Meanwhile the service has a rich history when it comes to supporting International Women’s Day – with its ‘Firefighter Mums’ and ‘Anyone Can Be Anything’ videos inspiring hundreds of women to register an interest in firefighting careers.

Aspiring firefighters are still able to register their interest in said careers, via the service’s website.

Residents in Rossington, Stocksbridge, Askern, Penistone, Dearne and Birley are being challenged to step up and join their local fire crew, as the county’s fire service launches another on-call firefighter recruitment drive.

New vacancies have arisen at the stations in each of these areas – with more staff needed to keep the fire engines’ wheels turning and respond to fires, floods, road traffic collisions and other emergency incidents.

Fire officers say there has never been a better time to join the service and pursue what is a childhood dream for so many people.

South Yorkshire needs you

“Our message to local people is simple – we need them!” said Station Manager Chris Tyler, who oversees the service’s on-call fire stations.

“On-call firefighters get the same training as wholetime staff, but they don’t work shifts. Instead, they carry a pager and respond from work and home when needed.

“This is one of the most unique jobs in the world as it requires a huge amount of commitment, bravery and determination.

“What we are asking is for people to consider making themselves available to respond to emergencies on top of their existing jobs and personal family commitments.

“It’s a big ask, but it’s also a huge opportunity and an exciting time to join our service. We need incredible people to fill our boots, and we know they are out there somewhere.”

“We’ve long known how valuable our on-call crews are”

Prospective on-call firefighters are required to live or work within five minutes of their local station, so they are able to get on the fire engine quickly if needed.

Calls can come in at all times of day and night – with existing staff claiming the adrenaline rush that comes with getting a call is one of the best parts of the job.

On-call crews are used right across the country to provide fire cover to more remote areas, with firefighters getting a ‘retainer fee’ for being on stand by, plus an hourly rate on top.

Last year, on-call staff were involved in battling the flurry of wildfires attended by the service during the July and August 2022 heatwaves.

Officers say that without them, the service wouldn’t be able to run.

“We’ve long known how valuable our on-call crews are, but you only have to look at the heatwaves we experienced last year to see how important they are.

“Some of our staff finished a day at work, got changed and then got on the fire engine to help deal with the unprecedented demand we faced – on the hottest day of the year.

“Their commitment is incredible and I’d encourage anyone who feels they would like a challenge to get on our website and give us their details. We’ll be in touch.”

Find out more

You can register your interest in an on-call role with South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue on the service’s website, here.