Shout! Summer 2015

Issue 12 Spring 2015

Official magazine of The Fire Fighters Charity

www.firefighterscharity.org.uk

Fighting fit Why I’ll always support the Charity

Lovely Jubilee

A day on the rehab programme

Healthy body, healthy mind New guide to health, wellbeing and fitness

Health and wellbeing Helping you recover from illness or injury and supporting you in times of need Rehabilitation

Community support services

A residential programme of tailored exercise therapy, physiotherapy, psychological services and health education to help you recover from injury or illness.

Support and advice to ensure you have the tools you need to deal with the challenges you face, from health and wellbeing, to housing needs, adaptations for daily living and more.

Where we can’t help directly we also work with third parties to ensure we find the right solution for you.

Dedicated helpline Offering advice and guidance to find the right solution for you, navigating you through our in-house services or by signposting you to others: 0800 389 8820

Whole person approach The Charity takes a ‘whole person’ approach to supporting its beneficiaries, ensuring that we look after you both physically and emotionally, equipping you to enhance, maintain and improve your quality of life.

ACCESS OUR SERVICEs Telephone: 0800 389 8820

Registered office: The Fire Fighters Charity, Level 6, Belvedere, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG Charity registered in England and Wales (1093387) and Scotland (SC040096)

Royal Patron Her Majesty The Queen

Editorial During his time with the Charity John worked hard to ensure that the Charity re-established itself as a friend within the Fire and Rescue Service. My challenge now, along with my Strategic Leadership Team, is to move the Charity forward as a provider of health and wellbeing services, ensuring we are well placed to provide support for the Fire and Rescue Service community for at least another 70 years.

Hello and welcome to the first edition of our new, redesigned Shout! magazine.

As you will see, this new publication is bigger, brighter and has a much broader selection of articles. We hope these will appeal to a wider audience, all of whom have one thing in common – an interest in The Fire Fighters Charity.

It has been my privilege to be the Chief Executive of The Fire Fighters Charity for almost a year now, taking over the role from John Parry.

The Charity is unique. No other ‘blue light’ service has access to such a wide-ranging provision of help and support. Over the last three years, the Charity has invested substantially in improving our services. You’ll find much more on our services throughout the magazine, as well as a dedicated health and wellbeing section written by members of our clinical team.

Our focus in the Charity now is on new and varied ways of working to ensure we are as efficient and effective as possible and that income is always present to sustain these improvements. An important aspect of working differently is our new database system. Amongst other things it will enable us to better understand and communicate with everyone whom we come in to contact with, from beneficiaries to donors, commercial partners to employees, volunteers and supporters. That has to be a good thing!

Enjoy the magazine.

Jill

Contents 4 Shout! about it

13 Cover Story

34 Back in business

6 Events

18 Thank you & good luck

36 Sleep talking

7 @FFC

21 Commercial update

37 Food for thought

9 From the heart

30 Climbing high

38 Shout+

10 Money matters

33 Firefighting fit

All the latest news from The Fire Fighters Charity

Find out what’s on and where

Tweets, posts, likes and shares

A volunteer’s take on the Charity

Life with our Regional Fundraising Team Manager

Meet Cumbrian firefighter David Robinson

Your fundraising stories

The latest from our Trading team

How we helped volunteer Sue Pym

Health, wellbeing, fitness and more

Back pain and manual handling

Top ten tips for a good night’s sleep

Healthy eating and nutrition advice

News, information and advice for the retired community

42 Competition

Win a fantastic bag from Elvis & Kresse

Registered Office: The Fire Fighters Charity, Level 6, Belvedere, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG. Charity registered in England & Wales (1093387) and Scotland (SC040096) Disclaimer: The Fire Fighters Charity believe that the information given in this magazine is correct at the time of going to print. We cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions. The opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the writers and not always that of the Charity. Where external links are provided – to other websites or social media accounts – we do not endorse the content carried on these sites and readers visiting them do so at their own risk.

Shout! about it

Contact the editorial team on shout@firefighterscharity.org.uk or 01256 366591

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NEWS

Shout! about it Here’s where you can keep up to date with the latest news and events from across The Fire Fighters Charity. We’re always on the look-out for interesting stories and if you’ve got something newsworthy that you’d like to Shout! about, let us know: shout@firefighterscharity.org.uk

Spirit Of Fire 2015 goes live The most prestigious event in the fire and rescue calendar, the Spirit of Fire Awards 2015 will take place on October 2 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel in Central London.

As the country marks 70 years since the end of the Second World War, this year’s ceremony will return to the Blitz, from where the The Fire Fighters Charity was first founded. But don’t worry, fancy dress is not required!

Children’s programmes The Fire Fighters Charity will be celebrating 10 years of family weekends this April in partnership with the Children’s Burns Trust.

Working with Manchester, Wakefield, Newcastle, Sheffield and Alder Hey Children’s Burns Services, we offer two separate programmes for children and their parents. This has historically taken place at Jubilee House in Cumbria, but this year we held a successful first event at Marine Court in West Sussex, meaning we can now support beneficiaries from both ends of the country.

The weekend offers parents the opportunity to participate in workshops on family stress

Celebrating bravery and dedication across the fire and rescue community, this year’s categories include: • Team of the Year • Best newcomer of the year

following a burn injury, burn scarring and treatment options, as well as the chance to explore relaxation strategies and enjoy relaxing complementary therapies with a certified therapist. Children, meanwhile, enjoy a wealth of sessions ranging from arts and crafts to swimming, free play and, as seen here, occasional one-off treats such as llama walking at Jubilee House. Other group activities have included trips to local farms and sanctuaries, as well as entertainment from magicians and even a visiting circus.

The Charity is looking forward to many more successful years of working with the Children’s Burns Trust.

Shout!

• Supporter of the year • Fire service of the year • Corporate supporter of the year • Lifetime achievement • Beneficiary of courage • Youth of courage • Adult hero • Firefighter of the year To find out more and buy tickets go to our Spirit of Fire Awards website at www.spiritoffireawards.co.uk

NEWS

Egremont take the crown Congratulations to Egremont Fire Station in Cumbria, winners of our annual textile recycling competition.

Egremont broke records this year, collecting more than 2.2 tonnes of clothing for the Charity, seeing off competition from 579 fire stations across the UK in the process. Crew Manager David McDowell involved his local community in the efforts, getting schools and local residents to donate to the fire station’s textile bank.

Meanwhile, Chatteris Fire Station in Cambridgeshire came second with 1.4 tonnes and Bedford Fire Station in Bedfordshire a close third with 1.3 tonnes.

Nationally, the Charity saw more than 130 tonnes of clothing collected, which has raised more than £35,000.

To find out more about textile recycling contact Sales Manager, Kevin Biles at

kbiles@firefighterscharity.org.uk

One giant leap for rehab The Fire Fighters Charity has taken a giant leap into the future of rehabilitation with the purchase of cutting-edge anti-gravity treadmills – making use of the Charity’s LIBOR grant – for each of our three centres.

Anti-gravity treadmills offer unweighting technology which can improve recovery rates and help enhance the rehabilitation programme for beneficiaries with lower body injuries, chronic pain or neurological conditions that inhibit mobility.

Beneficiaries who have had the opportunity to use the equipment have been thrilled with the difference it has made. Firefighter Fraser

Putting mental health first The Fire Fighters Charity is currently leading on supporting the mental health work stream with the Chief Fire Officers Occupational Health Network.

The Charity is working with the network to develop guidance to support employees and managers on issues of mental health

in the workplace. National trend analysis of sickness absence data within the FRS shows that mental health support remains a priority in operational and most especially control room staff.

The Charity and the Chief Fire Officers Association are also linking closely with the developments being undertaken by MIND, the mental health charity that received £4m LIBOR funding to develop targeted mental health support for all ‘blue light’ services.

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MacCallum said of the experience: “I wasn’t able to run for eight months until using the Alter G treadmill. Brilliant!”

Mark Thompson, meanwhile, added: “It was the first time I have walked without a limp in nearly four months. It’s an excellent piece of equipment.”

As a highly advanced piece of physical therapy technology the anti-gravity treadmill is ideal for rehabilitating beneficiaries who need to regain mobility, develop strength and fitness, and increase range of motion and natural movement.

Show your support If you would like to support The Fire Fighters Charity and help even more members of the fire service community, why not set up a regular gift? Please take a look at the flyer enclosed with this issue of Shout!

EVENTS DIARY

Events

Dates with destiny

We have a very busy year ahead of us with plenty of events coming up in our Charity diary. Take a look through these inspirational events and if you fancy finding out more visit www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/events or contact us on fundraising@firefighterscharity.org.uk or 01256 366581.

If you fancy doing an event for us which is not in our diary, do still get in touch and we will support you with your fundraising.

April 10

Sportsman’s Dinner at Grand Central Hotel Glasgow

11

Spar Great Ireland Run

12

Brighton Marathon / Brighton 10k

12

Buildwas Mud Challenge Shropshire

19

June

September

6

5

TrekFest Beacons

Tough Mudder - Midlands

13

12

Six Shropshire Summits Challenge Walk

19

2

Spirit of Fire Awards 2015

3

Thames Path Challenge

Sports Gala Dinner, Old Trafford

20

October

12

Bournemouth Supersonic 10k

13

Bournemouth Marathon/ Half Marathon

The Fire Fighters Charity National Car Wash Day

Great East Swim

Great North Run

27

27

4

18

Grand Union Challenge

Morrisons Great Yorkshire Run

Morrisons Great Birmingham Run

July

27

26

Tunnel to Towers New York

25

26

19

Berlin Marathon

Morrisons Great Edinburgh Run

19

Warrior Run West Sussex Virgin London Marathon Marafun Southampton

30

Sporting Celebrities Hertfordshire

May

Tunnel to Towers London 5k

Morrisons Great South Run

27

August

November 1

New York Marathon

2

RideLondon 100

2

Isle of Wight Challenge

3

Great Birmingham 10k

9

Hope24 Run Devon

10

Morrisons Great Manchester 10k

17

Leicester’s Big 10k

23

London to Brighton

25

Bupa London 10k

30

Tough Mudder - Midlands

31

Spinnaker Tower Abseil

31

Edinburgh Marathon/Half Marathon/Team Relay

Shout!

SOCIAL LIVES

FFC

Whether tweeting, posting, liking or sharing, you’ve been as busy as ever on our various social media channels. Here’s just a brief snapshot of recent online goings-on, but you can join the conversation for yourself on Twitter (@firefighters999) or on Facebook (/thefirefighterscharity).

Tweet spot @samontheweb (Sam Thomas)

@katethejuggler (Katherine Wells)

@abigaillucy_ (Abigail Chesson)

Back from truly amazing week at Jubilee House. Can’t thank @firefighters999 enough for the care and expertise, I feel like a different person. I can’t believe the fantastic level of care and treatment.

Want to give a massive thanks to @firefighters999 for helping my mum this week. Going to be a tough week ahead but she’s in good hands.

@sabarkerhill (Sophie Barker)

@josh_levy11 (Josh Levy) Cannot thank @firefighters999 enough for my time at #marinecourt. The facilities and staff were incredible! Such a beneficial two weeks away

Supporting The Fire Fighters Charity is this easy… next I’ve got to sort out my unwanted books @firefighters999

Face to Face reviews

@hjn93 (Hannah Neat) You do such an amazing job – no better service, and hope to fundraise when fit again!

Scott Rumblow – 5* The Charity

helped me get out of one of the hardest stages of my life by far. They helped me and my family. Knowing there are people to help and care is brilliant to know!

@kelticniner2 (Brian) Been to Harcombe, couldn’t praise higher. Just been to Marine Court #blownaway #professionalism

@WGCfirecommand (Rad Bristow) Post-work workout thanks to @firefighters999 Harcombe House. Knowledgeable, professional staff keeping us fit to keep you safe

Thank you for another great stay! It’s really made a difference! Made some friends for life, too, and again made to feel very comfortable. The staff are wonderful.

Linda Alcock – 5* Jubilee house is

the most amazing place. All the staff are fantastic – the nurses, physios, admin, domestic and catering staff. Everyone is so kind and treats you like a friend even over the phone. The people there have turned my life around. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people who work so hard to raise funds for the Charity

Brian Moodie – 5* I can’t praise the staff and facilities at Jubilee house enough, I was diagnosed with an ameloblastoma tumour in my lower mandible which required a major

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operation to resect the tumour and graft bone from my hip to form a new jaw. I contacted the Charity prior to the operation to see if they could assist me with my rehabilitation and was given all the info and help needed. I was off work for 5.5 months and spent two weeks at Jubilee before returning to full operational duty

Sarah Lewis - 5* Marine Court is

amazing! Went for recuperation and partner went for rehabilitation - staff couldn’t do enough, food amazing - 2 weeks that changed my life. Thank you!

Keith Walshe – 5* A massive thanks to all the staff at Harcombe House. Just got home from an amazing week in rehab. Great professional staff. Been worked hard but all worth it for recovery.

I recommend if you need any help then get in contact and KEEP DONATING

The Spirit of Fire Awards 2015

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! PARK PLAZA, WESTMINSTER BRIDGE

Friday 2nd October 2015

Back to the Blitz* www.spiritoffireawards.co.uk *Dress code: Black tie

MEET THE CREW

From the heart

By Diane Gough, The Fire Fighters Charity Volunteer and Headquarters Representative, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service.

I

have been involved with the Charity as a volunteer for almost 26 years, ever since I started with Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service in 1989. Everyone has a charity close to their heart, and this is definitely one of mine. My late mum was in the National Fire Service during WW2 and always encouraged me to do my bit, so I will carry this on for as long as I can! Even when I eventually retire, I will still happily help.

As a volunteer, I am a Headquarters Rep and also assist our great Brigade Rep, Rachel, as I have access to noticeboards and pigeon holes to distribute everything. I’m also quite good at networking and knowing who to contact to acquire things. I work with such nice people, which makes my role easy. When you see what colleagues achieve at a station open day and the amount they raise, it is staggering and always puts a smile on my face!

When I first started volunteering, we did lots of community events, like the Emergency Services Weekend at Stratford, The Royal Show and the Town and Country Festival. I was always on the stand, handing out stickers or selling helmets. I am happy in that environment so it was never a chore. Nowadays, car washes and bucket collections feature most.

It is much harder these days to get people involved as volunteers. I wish everyone in Warwickshire would give just one hour to help at a car wash or stand with a bucket, as we always need helping hands. I also work in Community Fire Safety so we now link these events with the work of the Charity, so we get a win-win for both.

We did a great Christmas event last year at Sainsbury’s in Kenilworth – which has the Charity as its Charity of the Year in 2015 – where every shopper was given a ‘Twelve Days of Fire Safety’ leaflet, while our buckets were filled with spare change.

I am a huge believer in always giving something back, and

have seen the Charity from both sides, having used its services for rehabilitation on my knee, visiting Marine Court and Jubilee House. I think this gives me a greater insight into encouraging my colleagues to make use of the fantastic facilities. One year on from my last visit, I am now ready to tackle the ski slopes again and am doing a lot more walking.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER Contact Judith Scarborough, Volunteer Support Manager, on volunteering@ firefighterscharity.org.uk if you’re interested in getting involved with volunteering for us in some capacity.

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MEET THE CREW

Self-raising power

By Natasha Mason, Regional Fundraising Team Manager

I

originally started out wanting to be a drama teacher, gaining a place at university to study drama teaching, but then life took over, I met my husband and I ended up not going to university.

Instead I worked in a familyrun stationery company for 10 years, rising to general manager. However, knowing I was good at getting money in, I decided to look at charity work.

I wanted to do something for people who needed the help.

My first charity job was at Marie Curie Cancer Care as a Telephone Appeals Manager, running house-to-house and raffle appeals in London and the South East. In 2010, I

joined The Fire Fighters Charity as Regional Fundraising Manager for the South team, supporting Regional and Charity Fundraisers in achieving their objectives, thinking about new events and how we could generate a healthy return on each investment. I also fundraised in the South West, where we saw some huge improvements in terms of income.

My role requires me to interact with all departments across the Charity as well as all members of the fire and rescue services, serving and retired. This may be through individual meetings or through regional meetings where we discuss regional business plans and objectives.

The South team has progressed well over the years, forging better relationships and communication lines with fire and rescue services in our area.

The biggest challenges have been cost-effectiveness with events and ensuring we raise predicted income.

I recently became Regional Fundraising Team Manager, meaning I am now managing all of the regional fundraisers across the North, South and Central regions. I’m looking forward to the challenges my new role may bring – the biggest change sees the coming together of three separate teams into one. My aims are to continue to support and develop my team and for

us to contribute more income year on year so the Charity can continue to provide its fantastic services. I also want to ensure we’re always thinking about what our events are there for.

I love the people I work with at the Charity and within the fire and rescue community and have built up some great friendships over the years.

Everyone is so committed to improving services and ensuring we’re the best we can be for our beneficiaries. Another great thing about working here is seeing how the work we do impacts on our beneficiaries.

I really enjoy hearing how we help them get their lives back on track or how we got them back to work quickly.

FIND OUT HOW TO FUNDRAISE Contact our Supporter Care Team – fundraising@ firefighterscharity.org.uk or 01256 366 581 – to find out more about fundraising for us. Or speak to your local Regional Fundraiser (details on the website). www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/local

Shout!

In the Euro NCAP collision test, the Volvo V40 scored the best result ever recorded. As well as featuring a range of class-leading safety systems, this elegant 5-door hatchback is an absolute pleasure to drive.

THE FIRE FIGHTERS CHARITY has driven a great deal

Today, a partnership between The Fire Fighters Charity and Volvo means you can benefit from a hugely valuable offer – as well as servicing, finance and accessory deals – at your local Volvo dealership. Get the inside story on offers across the full Volvo Range now.

FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOU COULD SAVE AT VOLVOCARS.CO.UK/AFFINITY OR CALL THE VOLVO CAR BUSINESS CENTRE ON 0844 4905 203

SO YOU CAN DRIVE A GREAT VOLVO V40 R-DESIGN.

Fuel consumption for the Volvo Range in MPG (l/100 km): Urban 18.6 (15.2) – 74.3 (3.8), Extra Urban 34.9 (8.1) – 91.1 (3.1), Combined 26.4 (10.7) – 155.2 (1.8). CO2 emissions 249 – 48g/km. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results.

www.firefighterscharity.org.uk

Sign-up via our website at www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/lottery or call our lottery hotline on 0870 759 8868

Registered Office: The Fire Fighters Charity, Level 6, Belvedere, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG.

Royal Patron Her Majesty The Queen

Promoter: Brian Strange. The Fire Fighters Charity is licensed by the Gambling Commission (www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk). No chances may be sold to a person under 16 years of age. Our social responsibility policy and full terms and conditions can be found on our website www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/lottery.

www.gamcare.org.uk

giving back Cumbrian firefighter David Robinson explains how important The Fire Fighters Charity has been to him over his 24 year career.

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GIVING BACK

a

s fire stations go, located in the foothills of the Lake District, within the spectacular Eden Valley and alongside the picturesque River Eamont, Penrith Community Fire Station isn’t a bad place to be stationed. Providing emergency cover to a large remote rural area covering approximately 37,500 hectares, it’s here that we meet firefighter David Robinson.

David, 46, has been a firefighter for the past 24 years and is married to one of the Charity’s Exercise Therapists, Gayle, who is herself based just 500 metres down the road at our dedicated

rehabilitation and recuperation centre, Jubilee House. David’s ties to the Charity are therefore stronger than most, but regardless of his matrimonial and geographical bonds, he is keen to emphasise the important role the Charity has played throughout his career.

“I have attended Jubilee House on a few occasions with sporting injuries,” he explains. “The first time was in the late 90s when I hurt my neck. It was a real help to me, they really help you understand what your body is doing. I remember coming away feeling really positive and with the skills I needed in regards to being able to cope with my injury. It just meant that I could manage my injury better, I know what is going on and how to do the exercises that I need to in the gym. It may sound so simple, but it made a huge difference.”

Being married to a member of the Charity’s clinical team has also allowed David to see the Charity from both sides of the physio’s bench.

“The team at Jubilee are close knit,” he says, as we discuss Gayle and her colleagues. “They are constantly learning their craft and skills. It’s a good team and it’s a positive place. I’m lucky in that I have first-hand experience of that.

Access our services To access our services and find out exactly how we can help you call our Helpline on

0800 389 8820

Shout!

“As we are just a few hundred yards down the road we also work with Jubilee to help them carry out function tests on firefighters to see if they are ready to go back on the run. The therapists, meanwhile, come up here to use our equipment and see what the job is like from the perspective of the firefighters they work with.”

David’s also keen to emphasise the value of the services offered by the Charity and of the expertise that is on hand for all beneficiaries at each of the three centres.

“I give regularly to the Charity and I always have done through my wages,” he stresses. “But I have had more than my money’s worth out of it. My contribution is minimal in comparison.”

Now a member of the day crew at Penrith, David began his career in Chorley before moving to Barrow, Kendal and Carlisle, where he spent the bulk of his career before moving to his current station in 2011. It’s a job he loves and one that runs in the family.

“I had an interest in firefighting from an early age – I think it was to do with the uniform,” he jokes. “My dad was in the fire service too, so it was a natural progression.

“I give regularly to the Charity and I always have done through my wages.�

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GIVING BACK

You can support The Fire Fighters Charity by donating through your payroll. Download a form from www. firefighterscharity.org. uk/payroll or call us on 01256 366581

“It is a job that I look forward to coming to every day; it’s certainly not as tedious as some jobs! I don’t have a problem getting up and coming to work.

The job does have its ups and downs though,” he adds.

David also admits to having seen a great deal of change over his 24-year career, adding; “The biggest challenge in the role now is keeping up with all the new things. Of course things have developed and procedures have changed. You’ve just got to keep going though, learning new stuff and staying up to date. It’s harder as you get older but you can’t sit on your your laurels.”

With the physicality of life as a firefighter ensuring that it remains one of the most challenging careers for anyone to come into, The Fire Fighters Charity provides support to serving and retired firefighters to ensure that they can maintain

their fitness and carry out their day to day duties throughout their careers. This valuable peace of mind is important, as David is only too aware.

“Some things now are a lot lighter to carry than they were when I first started out,” he says.

“Back then I was using heavy equipment and that was when I was young, fit and healthy. It has definitely taken its toll now I’m getting older and starting to get aches and pains. It’s harder now in the sense that it is quite physical and it’s starting to take its toll on me.”

As for what he’s enjoyed most over the years, David is in no doubt; “The single thing I have most probably enjoyed is being part of a team and the camaraderie. I have worked across a few watches over my career and each one surpasses the last.

“If you talk to anyone on another watch they will always say theirs is the best. You are close because you are together during each watch. You go everywhere together. It is a big team environment. It’s massive. We rely on each other on each job.

and persuaded to pose for an array of photographs for long enough. However, before we draw the interview to a close, he is keen to point out how easy it is for other firefighters to find out exactly how The Fire Fighters Charity can help them.

“One of our guys here is just 19 years of age and he is really keen, so it is important that we have experienced firefighters here to help him gain safe experience. When you are doing your basic training you are just preparing to go onto working on shift and that’s when the real education starts. That’s when you get your skills up, so that’s where being part of a team is really important.”

“The simplest way to find out about the Charity is to visit the website to see what they do.

There’s a ton of information on there. I know when I visited Jubilee House before there were a lot of people using the services who were new to the centres and usually every one of them is surprised at what they get.”

With the kettle having just boiled and shouts of “toast?” echoing around the station corridors, David is keen to return to his colleagues for a late breakfast, having been waylaid by Shout!

Shout!

To find out more about the Charity, its services and beneficiaries visit our website at www.firefighterscharity.org.uk or call our Helpline on 0800 389 8820.

Could you help?

Fundraising for the Charity brings in additional funds to help us support many more people in need.

Call 01256 366581

or email: supportercare@firefighterscharity.org.uk

GIVING SOMETHING BACK See how your support really helps at www.firefighterscharity.org.uk

Royal Patron

Registered office: The Fire Fighters Charity, Level 6, Belvedere, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG

Her Majesty The Queen

Charity registered in England and Wales (1093387) and Scotland (SC040096)

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THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK

Fundraising focus Our incredible supporters up and down the country are always running, climbing, walking, washing, recycling and coming up with a wealth of ways to fundraise for us. Here we say thanks to those who’ve completed their challenges, and good luck to those who are about to. If you’d like to feature on these pages just email shout@firefighterscharity.org.uk

Thank you...

Andy Grist

Royal Berkshire firefighter Andy Grist recently tackled 14 incredibly tough challenges over 14 months, raising more than £5,000 for The Fire Fighters Charity and Make-AWish Foundation.

Andy started with the Fan Dance Race which encompassed 24km across the

Brecon Beacons, following mountainous routes used by the SAS, and finished with five ultra-marathons over five days! In between, Andy took on the Isle of Wight Challenge which saw him kayak from Southampton to the Isle of Wight, cycle from the Needles to Ventnor, run back up to Cowes and kayak back to the mainland!

He also took part in the Grim Reaper, a 100 mile lap-based running race, and the Welsh 3000. To find out more, visit his donation page at www.virginmoneygiving.com/ The14Challenge. Thank you Andy, what an inspiration!

Martin Lown Station Commander Martin Lown from Hereford and Worcester Fire

Shout!

and Rescue scaled Africa’s Mount Toubkal in February using crampons and ice axes, to add to his already impressive fundraising total.

Mount Toubkal, standing at 4,167 meters (13,671ft), is the highest mountain in North Africa and hiking up it during the winter

THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK

Good luck...

Gary Wiliamson

Retired firefighter Gary Williamson is walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity and Cancer Research, hoping to raise £10,000.

Gary, who served in Hertfordshire and North Yorkshire before completing his career in South Yorkshire, has personal experience of using our services at Harcombe and Jubilee for recuperation after a lung problem and later rehabilitation for a knee injury. He set off in late March, and plans to be on the road for a good few months. This isn’t the first time Gary’s taken this road either – last time he did it on a bicycle! He says: “The Fire Fighters Charity’s facilities are only available because of people’s donations. They are a very worthwhile charity.” To support Gary, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ GaryWilliamson2. Best of luck Gary.

Bows & Belles Ball The second Bows & Belles Ball will be held on October 10.

months is not an easy feat. We are delighted that Martin’s expedition was successful and he has now raised over £12,000 for the Charity. Thank you so much Martin!

This fantastic event is held in memory of former charity fundraiser and volunteer Graham Bow MBE, who received a posthumous Lifetime Achievement award at Spirit Of Fire 2014. Organised by wife Lynn, the ball will be held in the Holte Suite at Aston Villa Football Club. Attendees will enjoy a three course meal with live entertainment and a disco, with all monies raised coming straight to the Charity. For more information, give Lynn a call on 07795 662 914.

Fakenham Fire Station

Alan Knell Best of luck to members of Fakenham Fire Station in Norfolk, who are cycling around all 42 Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service fire stations this May. Regional Fundraiser Alan Knell is hoping to walk a stonking 150 miles in just three days across the south of England this July.

It’s just the latest in a long list of events Alan’s taken part in – a particularly memorable

Sylvia Davenport

Stranraer Fire Station

A big thank you to Stranraer Fire Station who collected the most recyclable clothing in Scotland for us this January! Great work – please keep it up!

one being the 24 hour football match at St George’s last summer, which he both organised and participated in! If you’d like to donate to Alan’s endeavour, text FFCW79 £1 to 70070 or visit www.justgiving.com/AlanKnellMarch2Remember.

Thanks to Sylvia Davenport of Congleton, Cheshire, who has raised £700 in just three months for us! Sylvia, who retired from Congleton Fire Station in 2012 after more than 36 years as Administration Support, worked with daughter Angela and friends to hold two tombolas and a raffle.

18 19

Taking place over four days and across 400 miles, this endurance event will see plenty of crew on the road, with others covering the miles on static bikes in the Fakenham area instead. If you’d like to help, take a look at their Just Giving page: www. justgiving.com/fakenhamfirefighters42/

Congleton’s Watch Manager Keith Forshaw praised the tireless efforts of the two women, expressing his gratitude for their hard work.

Sylvia herself said: “It means a great deal to me to be able to give something back to the The Fire Fighters Charity. I’d like to thank everyone for their valuable support with my fundraising venture, as without them it would not have been possible.”

Car wash

A huge thank you to every fire station that took part in this year’s National Car Wash!

ADVERTORIAL

Buying a new car is a significant investment, so it pays to get the best possible deal

Volvo Affinity. Drive a bargain.

T

The third element of our Affinity offer is the option of metallic paint, completely free of charge. This is usually sold at up to £700, and gives you a wider selection of finishes to choose from when it comes to specifying the car of your dreams.

Volvo’s dealership network keeps a record of Affinity partners, making it easy to take advantage of the scheme. If you’re eligible (visit www.firefighterscharity.org.uk to find out), simply visit your local showroom to view our range. Then, once you’ve selected the model of your choice, a member of the sales team will talk you through the options.

Meanwhile, the possibility of purchasing an up-front servicing deal means you can plan your running costs for the first years of ownership. We offer three years of servicing at a Volvo main dealer for £300, and five years for £500. What’s more, packages like these are sometimes available at no cost to customers taking up a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) offer.

hanks to Volvo’s Affinity programme, beneficiaries of The Firefighters Charity have access to a variety of discounts and offers. That means you can get your hands on a brandnew Volvo at a very tempting price.

First up is a partner discount, awarded as a percentage of the vehicle’s net cost. This maximises the value of the discount, by keeping the pre-VAT price of the car as low as possible. In consequence, you get more for your money, putting Volvo ownership well within reach.

That’s further aided by the second element: a Volvo discount. We offer lump-sum reductions on the net value of our cars.

These vary by model and ensure you’ll often secure a new vehicle for what feels like the cost of a second-hand car.

If that takes care of the fourth aspect of our Affinity package, the fifth component gives you the chance to spread your purchasing costs and keep interest payments to a minimum. Our finance deals change over time, but we offer Affinity partners incentives such as preferential interest rates – including occasional 0% deals – that aren’t available to customers outside the scheme.

Finally, for those who like to personalise their car, we offer a selection of accessories at discounted prices. This includes some

packages that have been designed specifically for Affinity customers, giving you a car that stands out from the crowd and is perfectly suited to your lifestyle.

Accessories available include roof bars, cycling racks, interior mats and dog guards.

By clustering these items together in packages, we’re able to offer significant discounts for the equipment that our Affinity customers tell us they most frequently need.

This is all part of Volvo’s commitment to serving its partners as effectively as possible. We design our Affinity packages to have the maximum appeal to customers who belong to a variety of organisations.

Moreover, we strive to deliver the highest levels of service throughout your buying and ownership experience.

Thanks to the Affinity scheme, you can own a Volvo that is equipped with your favoured specification for a surprisingly modest outlay. As a result, even more people can enjoy the safety, elegance, economy and poise that characterises our industryleading range of premium cars. Even better, you can make a sound investment that repays you time and time again.

To find out more about the current range of Affinity offers, visit your local dealership. Alternatively, call the Volvo Car Business Centre on 08444 905 203

Shout!

COMMERCIAL UPDATE

Commercial Update

The clothes show They’re doing it, are you?

A simple way to give and a great way to raise revenue, textile banks on fire stations provide a valuable source of income for the Charity, with no financial risk.

Over 40 UK Fire and Rescue Services support this scheme and over 600 fire stations have a a textile bank. Since its inception in 2009, we have collected over 2,000 tonnes of clothing, diverting it away from landfill sites.

This simple, useful and effective method of fundraising will raise over £400,000 for The Fire Fighters Charity this year. But we need even more!

We are looking for more stations to become a part of our recycling scheme.

If you would like your station to be considered for a textile bank and to help us raise vital funds for the Charity, please contact Kevin Biles, Sales Manager, on 01256 366573 or kbiles@firefighterscharity.org.uk

Printing money Recycling your old cartridges Another simple income generation method for the Charity is recycling used printer cartridges.

We’ve all got them and we probably chuck them in the bin or take them to the tip, so why not give them to The Fire Fighters Charity and help us to do more?

Simply visit www.therecyclingfactory.com/firefighterscharity to download a freepost label, like the one opposite. Then, squeeze your old cartridges into an envelope, stick on the label and put it in the post. Simple; you’ve got rid of your old cartridges and you’ve donated to the Charity.

For more information and to see how you can help raise funds for the Charity through electrical goods recycling contact The Recycling Factory (TRF) on 0800 0910696 or visit their website as mentioned above.

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MERCHANDISE OFFERS

Bag a bargain Explore our webshop and take advantage of these fantastic offers when you’re next browsing for a gift or pondering a special purchase.

Quote SHOUTS15 to save 10% in our webshop on all these items. Valid until 31 May 2015. £6 £114

£8

£14.99

Running Vest

11” Blaze Bear Cuddly Toy

£9.99

‘SAVED’ Decanter and Glasses Set

Try Me Toy Fire Engine with Ladder

£39.99

£5 Cycling Top

Red ‘NEENAW’ T-Shirt Fireman Sam Push Along Also available in Pink and Blue Vehicle – Jupiter Fire Engine

£117.95

Female British Firefighter

‘Stand Down’ Statuette

£12.50

£10.95

£7.99

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12” Talking Fireman Sam

‘Retired’ Firefighter T-Shirt

Firefighter Play Suit Ages 4-6 and 6-8

ORDER TODAY

Fireman Sam – 2 in 1 Travel Game

Online: www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/shop By email: admin@firefighterscharity.org.uk By phone: 01256 366566 All prices exclude postage and packaging

Shout!

MERCHANDISE OFFERS

Shop in a box

Holding an event at your station?

Why not arrange for a Charity ‘Shop-in-a-Box’ and sell our Charity merchandise at your event? Simple to set up and priced to sell, it couldn’t be easier. In fact...

...it’s as easy as 1-2-3!

Just a few of the items you can expect in your box:

1

Place an order for a ‘Shop-in-a-Box’ with us and it will be delivered 3-4 days before your event.

2

Teamsters City Toy Fire Engine

PVC Fire Engine Torch Keyring

Blaze Bear

Display and sell the stock at your event .

Pack any unsold stock back into the box and return it to us, and pay the money raised into the bank.

3

Neenaw Mug Neenaw T shirt

Plus many more items!

Frisbee

Reflective Armband

ORDER YOURS TODAY Call 01256 366566 or email siab@firefighterscharity.org.uk For more information visit www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/shop and select ‘Shop-in-a-box’

22 23

35 Piece Fireman Sam Puzzle

NEWS

In at the deep end Our newly appointed Head of Marketing and Engagement, Tim Beynon, joins beneficiaries for a day on the programme at Jubilee House.

I

t was shortly after scanning the programme of activities for the day ahead that I began to regret opting for the Full English at the B&B that morning. I would be joining a group of nine beneficiaries for a day at Jubilee House – the Charity’s state of the art centre in the heart of the Lake District – complete with informative talks, outdoor activities, pool, gym and hydro sessions, and, by the time it arrived, a very welcome half hour of relaxation.

A new recruit to the Charity, I was only in my second month as part of the Basingstoke-based Marketing and Engagement team when the opportunity arose to visit our Cumbrian base. Keen to see first-hand how the Charity works and who we work with, I soon found myself motoring up the M6 and into the snow covered mountains of the Lake District.

Situated in the picturesque village of Eamont Bridge, a stone’s throw from the market town of Penrith, Jubilee House is a purpose built rehabilitation and recuperation centre within 10 acres of grounds. Boasting a fully equipped gym and sports hall, an indoor swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool

and a host of other impressive facilities and teams – including dedicated nursing and psychological therapy teams – Jubilee House welcomes beneficiaries from across the fire and rescue community, as well as the occasional anxious marketing type.

or retired firefighters – covered a wide age range, as well as an impressive array of injuries, ailments and post-operative aches; with knees, backs, hips and shoulders the most common reasons for programme participation.

Offering four, seven and 10 day programme options, I joined a mixed group who, like me, were starting out on their Jubilee experience. Assembling in a cosy conference room, safely away from the sub-zero temperatures outside, the day began with a talk on expectations.

Physiotherapist Simon Savage encouraged my fellow beneficiaries to discuss their expectations for the programme, explaining how the staff team would be available to help and support them, while keeping feet on the ground in terms of any miracle cure.

I fully expected, meanwhile, to be hugely impressed by the work of the team and humbled by the bravery and determination of my fellow beneficiaries, and to see my breakfast again when I hit the treadmill.

However, not everyone’s reason for referral was physical. As we made our way down a narrow, stonewalled country lane, admiring the Alpine-like scenery around us, I chatted to Adam who told me that he was here following a number of family bereavements.

Struggling to come to terms with the impact of his loss, Jubilee House had been recommended to Adam as a place where he could find support, as well as some time to himself.

Next up, however, it was back outside and into those aforementioned sub-zero temperatures for a 2.5 mile walk around the local area. My fellow walkers – all active

Shout!

Upon our return to Jubilee House it was boots off and swimming trunks on, a prospect which – having a frame more Agatha Christie than Linford Christie, and lining up alongside a team of seasoned firefighters – filled me with more than a little trepidation. I needn’t have worried, however, as Exercise Therapist Chris Hodgson put us through our paces with a thoroughly enjoyable and challenging series of movement drills that, at various points,

NEWS

had us drenching each other with water, striding from one side of the pool to the other, balancing floats under our feet and even effectively performing an immaculately executed aqueous barn dance. However bizarre, each exercise was designed to test our movement and balance, using the resistance of the water to both support and challenge us.

Having dried off and after a light lunch it was back in to the conference room for a talk on sleep with Psychological Therapist, Kerry Hodgkinson.

With many beneficiaries reporting problems with their sleep, this insightful talk explained the sleep cycle and explored the reasons why many of us have trouble nodding off at night. From stress to caffeine, screen time to mattresses, Kerry outlined the factors that can affect how we sleep and gave us a wealth of ideas for helping us to ensure we get the hours we need, many of which she has summarised in her Shout! column on page 36. For those of us in the room it provided an opportunity to assess what it is that’s been keeping us awake at night and whether there’s anything we could be doing differently in order to sleep better. For shift workers, Kerry also explained how this can play havoc with your body clock and outlined some steps to help with sleep during the day, even recommending driving home in dark glasses in order to help your body prepare for sleep.

24 25

HOLIDAY WITH US Save 10% on your next break*

Our superb on-site facilities at a choice of idyllic locations make our Centres a perfect choice for a relaxing break.

Contact us on the details below to book your escape today and quote ‘Shout 2015’ to save 10%.* Harcombe House (Devon) Telephone: 01626 853619 or email; harcombe@firefighterscharity.org.uk Marine Court (West Sussex) Telephone: 01903 735931 or email; marinecourt@firefighterscharity.org.uk Jubilee House (Cumbria) Telephone: 01768 890009 or email; jubilee@firefighterscharity.org.uk

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SAVe 10% on your break Book your getaway today and quote ‘Shout 2015’

*Offer valid for bookings made by the 31 May 2015 for breaks to be taken in April, May, June, September and October 2015 excluding School Holidays.

All bookings subject to availability.

NEWS

The gym followed soon after, with each member of the group given an individual programme of exercises, dependent on the type and severity of their injury or area of weakness. Everyone on the programme had been assessed by the clinical team at Jubilee House the day before, allowing the physios and exercise therapists the opportunity to review and tailor-make a programme of activities and exercises to meet the needs of each individual. The result saw a busy gym with, for example, 42 year-old Walt throwing a one pound ball against a wall to strengthen the shoulder he had dislocated, while 76-year-old Ken skipped across a ladder – with enviable nimbleness – to strengthen the knees he has had replaced.

Simon and Chris were once again on hand throughout the session to guide each beneficiary through their programme, making use of the full range of equipment available, including bikes, balance boards and Swiss balls, as well as head-mounted lasers and a Nintendo

Wii. Indeed, with the latter Ken once again stepped up to the plate, or rather the Wii balance board, this time guiding his computer-animated bubble around a twisty river course with ease, a skill I remember failing dismally at in the comfort of my own living room.

In a separate, nearby fitness room a range of familiar looking treadmills, exercise bikes and arm bikes were also joined by a space-age looking new addition. The Anti-Gravity Treadmill – acquired by the Charity through the money received from LIBOR – allows users to reduce gravity’s impact on joints by ‘unweighting’ themselves from the treadmill, thus allowing users to exercise while reducing the impact on the joints that can come from traditional exercise.

Regrettably not yet up and running, we could but stand back and admire, imagining an experience not dissimilar to that of Messrs Armstrong and Aldrin.

One small step for man, one imminent giant leap for rehabilitation.

26 27

NEWS

Most obvious to me during my time in the gym, however, was how focused and determined each beneficiary was to make the most of the opportunity they had been given. Far from baulking at the thought of pushing or testing themselves in a gym environment, all were chomping at the bit to get stuck in, grateful for the chance to attempt exercises that had been designed specifically for them and keen to see what difference they may make. Also, far from being an individual experience, my fellow programmers supported and light-heartedly goaded each other throughout and, when it came to the Wii, were keen to compete to see who could guide the bubble the furthest. We’d only been together for a matter of hours but the banter was evident and it was clear that everyone was enjoying each other’s company.

A welcome tea break followed the gym before the trunks were once again unpacked for a visit to the hydrotherapy pool. A third of the size of the pool from earlier in the day, the hydro pool was super-heated, ensuring all who entered expelled an involuntary sigh of delight as they sunk into the relaxing waters and allowed tired muscles to relax. Chris – leading the session from the side of the pool – dished out an array of floats and began with a short series of movement and flexibility exercises, before allowing all of us to lie back, supported by said floats, and relax to some calming classical music.

Regardless of the nasal sounds to my side, the session was a wonderfully calming way to end an eye opening, tiring and inspirational day. My own expectations had most certainly been met, my fellow beneficiaries were an incredible, brave, determined and gregarious bunch who were grabbing this opportunity with both hands and embracing all that it threw at them. My colleagues at Jubilee House, meanwhile, were clearly a dedicated, professional, approachable and personable team, capable of putting beneficiaries at ease and encouraging them to get the most out of their experience. Should the need or opportunity arise for you, dear reader, to attend the programme at Jubilee House, or at any of The Fire Fighters Charity’s three centres, I wouldn’t hesitate in taking the chance to do so. I would, however, opt for a lighter breakfast!

No one wanted to get out. This was heavenly and when Chris did eventually call time I imagined that this must be how my children feel when I pull them out of the bath they’d been enjoying for the past half hour.

Thankfully, however, no one here threw a tantrum or refused to get dressed.

My day was coming to an end but, if the hydro pool hadn’t been relaxing enough, our final session of the day was one entitled ‘relaxation.’ Held once again in the conference room, we were each given a mat and pillow, the lights were turned off, some pan pipe music played gently in the background and our instructor, Lucy, calmly talked us through a relaxation technique that involved imagining our body getting slowly heavier and warmer. It was, indeed, relaxing and within seconds the technique had worked brilliantly for the person to my immediate left, who began snoring with gusto.

Shout!

BECOME A COMPANY MEMBER IN 2015

The Fire Fighters Charity is the UK’s leading provider of rehabilitation and support for the Fire and Rescue community.

The Charity is currently seeking applicants for the role of Company Member.

As a Company Member you will play a key role in the governance of the Charity. You will have the right to attend our annual general meeting and to cast your vote in the best interest of the Charity’s future.

The ideal Company Member has a genuine interest in the Charity and a commitment to undertaking the key duties of the role.

For more information about the role and an application form please visit our website: www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/ company-members Closing date for applications 29th May 2015

Registered Office: The Fire Fighters Charity, Level 6, Belvedere, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG. Charity registered in England & Wales (1093387) and Scotland (SC040096)

Royal Patron Her Majesty The Queen

PROGRAMME TALES

Climbing high Surrey Fire and Rescue Service Volunteer and climbing fan, Sue Pym, on how The Fire Fighters Charity helped her climb her way back to health following a horrific fall.

h

aving taken a few days off work to lend her support to Surrey Fire and Rescue Service at a weeklong, hard-hitting road safety seminar across local schools and colleges, 47-year-old Sue Pym’s involvement was cut short when, enjoying her hobby, she fell from an indoor climbing wall and shattered all the bones in her left ankle.

“I found out about the Charity and the volunteer scheme after working on Fire Safety projects at Surrey County Council,” explains Sue, reflecting on why she was drawn to the charity in the first place. “I wanted to volunteer as I was really impressed with what the fire service do and they are a great bunch of people.”

Disappointed that her involvement in the road safety scheme had been cut short, and faced with a lengthy lay off as she recovered from her accident, Sue was surprised to receive a call from her Volunteer Manager within a month of her fall.

“He rang me to tell me that it had just been agreed that Fire and Rescue Service volunteers could attend the Charity’s rehabilitation

programme and he was going to put my name forward,” said Sue. “It didn’t even occur to me that I would be entitled to any help from the Charity.

in all honesty when they phoned, I didn’t want to waste anybody’s time. I was sure nothing more could be done, but they told me to come along and I did.”

dependants. Full details of eligibility can be found on the Charity’s website at www. firefighterscharity.org.uk/ eligibility.

“The NHS had said that my ankle was as good as it would get. I could walk, but I was only able to wear trainers and flat shoes. I thought that I was going to have to live with the pain. So,

As well as supporting Fire and Rescue Service volunteers, The Fire Fighters Charity supports serving and former Fire and Rescue Service personnel, works firefighters and their

Being a volunteer, Sue was apprehensive at first about using the Charity’s services.

Shout!

“When I arrived at Marine Court, I felt embarrassed and apprehensive, firstly for being

PROGRAMME TALES

a volunteer and secondly for my injury,” she admitted. “But that faded really quickly as I could not have been made more welcome by everyone. All of my fears disappeared. I had an assessment on day one and my therapist got two centimetres more movement in my ankle, which was phenomenal. That was just amazing.”

Reflecting on her 10-day stay at Marine Court, in Littlehampton, West Sussex, Sue is in no doubt of the benefit it has brought to her day-to-day life. “I thought my time at Marine Court and my rehabilitation programme was brilliant,” she says. “I got five centimetres more movement in my ankle during my stay and, although it’s difficult whilst looking after my two children, I still do one particular stretch every day. The movement in my injured ankle is now similar to my

good ankle. When I got home, I showed my children and they couldn’t tell which one was which!”

Sue enthuses about the holistic benefit of her visit too: “When I went to Marine Court I was at a low ebb to be honest. I made lots of friends in there and I still keep in contact with quite a few people I met. We laughed a lot which I think was a good tonic and it was also very therapeutic.

Everyone who I met came out with improvements to their injuries and those who were experiencing low periods in their personal lives all came out feeling mentally stronger.”

As for the future? “I will definitely be continuing my volunteer role for the Charity. I am more passionate than ever and I can speak about the work they do with confidence.”

30 31

BECOME A VOLUNTEER There are many ways in which you can volunteer your time to support the Charity, including getting involved with fundraising events or supporting us to deliver our services as a Home Visitor. For more information and to express your interest visit the website: www.firefighterscharity.org. uk/what-you-can-do/volunteer

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS.

New Balance 680v2 To enquire about the supply of New Balance (procurement) please contact Sam Halliday sam.halliday@newbalance.co.uk New Balance is proud to support The Fire Fighters Charity

THIS IS #RUNNOVATION.

FIREFIGHTING FIT

Firefighting Fit Welcome to Firefighting Fit, a new section of Shout! magazine from The Fire Fighters Charity’s rehabilitation teams at Jubilee House, Marine Court and Harcombe House. experience a wealth of health professional expertise, from physiotherapy and exercise therapy to psychological therapy and nursing, all via a programme of activity tailor-made to meet each individual’s needs.

Hi, I’m Nicky Patton and I’m the Rehabilitation Services Lead, which means I’m responsible for the rehabilitation service provided at all three of our centres.

I’m delighted to kick off this first issue of Firefighting Fit, which aims to provide you with a wide range of features and information from the dedicated teams at our centres.

We’ll cover a broad range of subjects including injury prevention, nutrition, psychological wellbeing and nursing. We’ll also take a close look at examples of injury prevention best practice, as well as commonly referred types of injury and how to manage them.

For those of you who aren’t aware of what our rehabilitation service provides, the following pages will hopefully give you some indication of the support we offer beneficiaries. Our centre-based rehabilitation services allow our users to

There are a variety of programme lengths available for you to access, stretching across four, seven or 10 days and dependent on the nature of your need, as well as how long you are able to stay away from home.

Once on the programme you will attend at the same time as a range of other people — serving and retired Fire and Rescue Service personnel and a small number of commercial clients who help fund our services — hopefully allowing you to make new friends and acquaintances throughout your stay.

As well as physical sessions, you will also have access to a range of health and wellbeing workshops aimed at improving your understanding and ability to effectively manage symptoms associated with reduced activity and a change from your normal circumstances. We understand that the time spent with us is relatively limited, so your whole stay is geared towards enabling you to continue to maintain or make further improvements when you return home. Statutory and local services do vary across the UK so we can also signpost you to where services are available as appropriate at the end of your stay. This can be in conjunction with our Beneficiary Support

Services team who are based at the centres and around the UK.

support will literally change people’s lives.

Of course, all of the above is available to our beneficiaries free of charge, a service only made possible as a result of the incredible generosity of our supporters. So, if you don’t already support the Charity, please consider doing so. Your

I hope you enjoy the coming pages and if you’d like to access our services at any stage, or find out more about the support that may be available to you, simply call our dedicated Helpline on 0800 3898820.

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FIREFIGHTING FIT

Back in business Jubilee House Physiotherapist, Simon Savage, explores the reasons why so many of us suffer from back pain and why good manual handling practice can make a huge difference.

Back pain is well recognised as the most frequent cause of work absence in the UK and there can be little doubt that for many people it is a real and severe problem. Here are just a few of the facts and figures that studies into back pain have discovered: 1. Back pain continues to make up the highest proportion of work related musculoskeletal disorders and manual handling injuries - caused when people lift or move things - account for a large proportion of this back pain.

persons involved in the manual handling operation.

It is vital to act upon and implement the findings of the risk assessment.

REVIEW: Risk assessments should be REVIEWED when changes occur or when they are no longer valid.

At some point in their lives, 80% of adults experience back pain.

Obviously the legislation focuses on the workplace, but the principles remain the same for day-to-day life. That is; avoid hazardous lifting and moving where possible. If it can’t be avoided, think before you act and reduce the hazards to a minimum.

2. Handling injuries account for nearly a quarter (24%) of reported injuries in great Britain and an estimated 909,000 lost working days per year.

3. At some point in their lives, 80% of adults experience back pain.

Back pain is often blamed on one specific incident, but this is rarely the case. One of the keys to having a healthy back is understanding that most injuries are the result of the cumulative effects of many factors, including poor posture, faulty body mechanics, stressful living and working habits, loss of flexibility, poor physical condition, age, obesity, degenerative disease and traumatic injury.

Beware of hazards

A back disorder begins to develop long before the first episode of pain and the problem usually still remains after the pain subsides. As the episode runs its course it is important that part of the treatment involves prevention of further episodes.

Enviroment: Are there constraints to posture? Poor/uneven floors?

Hot/cold/humid conditions? Poor lighting? Adverse weather?

Good manual handling techniques and habits form a vital part in reducing the incidence of back pain and preventing the recurrence of back pain.

What does the law say?

The key legislation relating to manual handling in the workplace is the Manual Handling Operations Regulations Act 1992 (amended). In summary, this Act says: AVOID: Where it is possible AVOID hazardous manual handling operations.

ASSESS: Where hazardous manual handling operations cannot be avoided, then a suitable and sufficient ASSESSMENT is required.

REDUCE: This Risk Assessment aims to REDUCE the risk to all

When assessing a manual handling task it is important that you consider all potential hazards.

The acronym ELITE is worth remembering when considering this:

Load: Is it heavy? Bulky? Difficult to grasp? Unstable/unpredictable?

Intrinsically harmful (hot/sharp)? Fragile? Are there handles/straps?

Individual capability: Does the job require unusual capability?

Require more than one person? Present a hazard to those with health problems? Present a problem to those who are pregnant?

Require special information/training?

Task: Does it involve holding loads away from the body? Twisting?

Stooping? Reaching upwards? Long carrying distances? Ascending/ descending stairs? Climbing up/down ladders? Strenuous pushing or pulling? Unpredictable movement of loads? Repetitive handling?

Insufficient rest/recovery? A work rate imposed by a process? New or unusual task?

Equipment: Is handling equipment in good working order? Is it appropriate for the task? Appropriate for the user? Appropriate for the environment? Is the user trained to use the equipment?

Shout!

Getting it right

DEFINITION What exactly do we mean by manual handling?

Well, it can be defined as:

The Base LifT Technique

Any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or bodily force. A load in this context being defined as an inanimate object or person.

for lifting a heavy object from the floor

1

FEET

THINK BEFORE YOU LIFT

Place feet apart, ensuring you are in a stable, balanced position with your leading foot forward

2

Where are you going?

Consider your route. Do you need doors held open for you? Make sure the task can be performed as safely as possible. Run through the ELITE reminder.

3

POSTURE Head looking in direction of travel to avoid neck strain.

Shoulders level with leg space.

HEAD AND MOVEMENT

Back maintaining the natural curve, as much as you are able to do so.

4

Lead with your head, raising your body and lifting the load smoothly.

Arms within leg space.

Hands maintaining secure grip.

Knees bent.

5

THE END

BODY Keep load as close to your body as possible. Use your feet to change direction if required- Do not twist or turn your body. Keep your nose in line with your toes.

6

Place the load down, preferably at waist height, close to your body. Manoeuvre the load once it is down.

REFERENCES: Edges Services : People Handling and Risk Assessment. Oct 2010.

Health and Safety Executive : Musculoskeletal Disorders in Great Britain 2014. Health and Safety Executive : Handling Injuries in Great Britain 2014.

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FIREFIGHTING FIT

Sleep talking Ten top tips for getting a good night’s sleep from Jubilee House Psychological Therapist Kerry Hodgkinson. don’t go to bed, wait until you are.

1. Routine: if possible, try to go to bed and get up at about the same time every day.

2. Sleep and sex: these are the only things your bed should be used for, so banish TV, tablets and phones from the bedroom.

Getting a good night’s sleep sounds like such a simple concept, but for many it is a daily struggle that can have a serious impact on their lives.

Many of the beneficiaries I work with here at Jubilee House tell me of the difficulty they have nodding off at night, often as a result of one or more of an incredibly broad range of factors that can include stress, anxiety, pain, diet, dehydration, temperature and a host of other barriers to sleep.

When I talk to beneficiaries about sleep issues I like to explain the normal pattern or cycle of sleep and how some of the barriers I have mentioned can impact upon it. However, rather than lying awake and counting sheep, I believe there are a number of simple steps we can take to help us prepare for sleep and ensure we get enough of the right type of sleep to make sure we wake refreshed and ready for the day ahead. Here are my top ten tips:

3. Avoid nicotine and caffeine just before bed: don’t forget that caffeine is found in tea, chocolate and some soft drinks, as well as coffee.

Remember as well that each person is individual so finding what works for you may involve trial and error. There are no rules with sleep and the length of sleep we require is unique to to us. What works for your partner might not work for you, so don’t be afraid to try different duvets,

different mattresses or even different times if you need to.

For more information on getting a good night’s sleep visit the Sleep Council’s website – www.sleepcouncil.org.uk – where you can download a PDF that expands upon the points I have mentioned here.

4. Avoid large meals immediately before bed: light snacks only before you turn the lights out.

5. Don’t clock watch: turn it away from you or out of sight as looking at it may only make you worry more about the fact that you’re not sleeping.

6. Cut back on the booze: reduce your alcohol intake, it might help you nod off initially but it will disrupt your sleep later in the night.

7. Exercise: do regular physical exercise during the week, but not too soon before bed.

8. Get up: if you wake during the night and can’t get back to sleep, don’t just lie there, get up, do something else and return to bed a little later to try again.

9. Write it down: if your mind is firing at 1,000mph and your thoughts are keeping you awake, get up, take yourself out of the bedroom and write your thoughts down so you can address them at another time.

10. Be tired: it may sound obvious, but if you’re not tired,

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Reduce your alcohol intake. It might help you nod off initially but it will disrupt your sleep later in the night

FIREFIGHTING FIT

Food for thought Marine Court Exercise Therapist and nutrition expert Joe Matthews on the amazing impact food has on our day to day lives and how small changes to your diet can make big differences. body diet secrets,’ or one shining a light on the ‘top ten celebrity diets of 2015’?

It was Hippocrates who said; “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.”

Hopefully, however, it shouldn’t always take a few wise words from a 2,500 year-old Greek physician for us to realise that well-balanced nutrition forms the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle.

Consuming a variety of fresh foods, with fruits and vegetables spanning a rainbow of colours, can promote health and wellbeing in an incredible variety of ways. It can increase your energy levels, improve your mood and help with the quality of your sleep, as well as supporting and facilitating a whole host of bodily functions!

The word ‘diet’ is taken from the Latin word diaeta which means “way of life.” Unfortunately, in modern society the word has been used to describe diets of all varieties and has resulted in it being associated with connotations of both a positive and worryingly negative nature.

How often have you picked up a magazine revealing ‘7-day beach

The word ‘diet’ is taken from the Latin word diaeta which means “way of life.”

Crash and/ or fad dieting often leads to unsuccessful long-term results and, in fact, weight re-gain, so my advice would be to always take what you read with a metaphorical pinch of salt and to seek genuine nutritional advice.

Across the Charity’s three centres we prefer an approach to nutrition that is centred around sustainable changes to an individual’s lifestyle. This could involve making a couple of small changes every few weeks that can be adhered to over the longterm. For example, this could be as simple as reducing the number of sugars you have in a cup of tea from two to one and a half, or introducing a daily habit to always have vegetables with your evening meal. It may sound like an insignificant change, but these small margins quickly add up and can drastically transform someone’s eating habits.

My challenge to you is therefore to pick one thing, one habit, one treat or one indulgence and make a change. I’m not saying cut it out altogether, but try reducing your intake and see what difference it makes. Why not start with the amount of sugar in your next cup of tea?

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Joe’s Turkey Meatballs (serves 4) For the meatballs:

form into small rounded balls.

500g turkey mince / vegetarian mince or Quorn

3) Place on an oiled baking sheet and cook for 25 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally.

2 squeezes tomato puree 2 spring onions (finely chopped) 2 tsp mixed Cajun spice 2 tsp dried coriander For the sauce: 1tbsp olive oil 500g passata 1 onion (finely chopped) 1 red pepper (finely chopped) 4 tsp mixed Cajun spice 2 garlic cloves (crushed) 1) Pre-heat oven to 200° (425 F, gas mark 6).

2) Combine all of the meatball ingredients together in a bowl and

4) Sauce: gently fry onion, pepper, and garlic in a large saucepan for 7-8 minutes or until soft.

5) Add in the spice and cook for another minute, add the passata and simmer for 5-6 minutes.

6) Remove meatballs from the oven and put into the saucepan, continue to cook for a further 7-8 minutes.

7) Plate the meatballs up and serve with a hearty portion of vegetables (I like broccoli and kale!) and a fist-sized portion of boiled rice!

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Retire, renew, refresh, review and rewind

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED We’re currently undertaking an ambitious Fire Service Census to get in touch with as many of our beneficiaries, past and present, as possible. We want to make sure our records are up to date and, if we’ve lost touch with anyone, we want to reconnect with them so we can let them know all about the Charity.

As our beneficiaries include both current and past serving members of the UK Fire and Rescue Service, as well as their dependants, we have enlisted the help of a host of retired/past member associations across the UK. You, or someone you might know, may therefore shortly receive a letter in the post – potentially passed on from your retired or past member association for us – and we’d be hugely grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete the enclosed data sheet and send it back to us.

Doing so will allow us to get in touch with you directly, to keep you up to date with news from the Charity and to let you know about the services we offer that you are entitled to.

This has been a huge project and so far we have sent over 19,000 letters to people in 21 Fire and Rescue Services. We would like to thank everyone who has helped us already and returned their data sheets. If you have yet to return your data sheet, you can send it back to us free of charge to: Freepost RSYJ-HGEK-RGBX The Fire Fighters Charity 126 Fairlie Road, Slough, SL1 4PY If you have lost your data sheet and would like a replacement please email us at supportercare@ firefighterscharity.org.uk or call us on 01256 366581 and we would be delighted to send you a new one.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD Retired firefighter John Robson has taken fundraising for The Fire Fighters Charity to new heights, climbing the world’s highest mountains, running marathons and organising a wealth of events that together have raised well over £100,000.

Founder of Fire and Ice Expeditions, John previously served in Northumberland, the Fire Service College, Highland

and Islands and recently retired from County Durham and Darlington. Also a National Executive Committee member of the Fire Service Sports and Athletics Association (FSSAA) for the last 22 years, John has never shied away from the opportunity to raise money for the Charity by taking on the toughest of challenges.

“The FSSAA and the Charity

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have a Memorandum of Understanding that sees many of the FSSAA events raise substantial funds for the Charity,” he explains. “One such event is the annual UK 3 Peaks Challenge which involves running/walking up the three highest summits in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours. The Fire and Ice team has regularly entered the annual challenge. Over the years we

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have completed eight challenges with five platinum medals and three gold medals.”

In 2013 John was diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica, an inflammatory condition that causes incapacitating pains and stiffness.

John says: “At my worst I was confined to my bed and a wheelchair.

I lost nearly three stone and I had the most debilitating pains as the chronic illness took hold.

“I was told I would never climb or run again but in the last year I’ve organised the Durham raft race, completed the Cuillin Ridge - a ridge of rocky mountains located on the Isle of Skye — run the Tunnel to Towers in New York, which raised £3,435 for the Charity, and completed my 15th Great North Run in one hour 51 minutes!”

John is now in remission and is currently on a long-term steroid reduction programme. During his road to recovery he continues to deliver inspirational talks, as well as organising and participating in events for Fire and Ice Expeditions. This year the team is going to the Himalayas to attempt an unclimbed and extremely remote summit – Mukot Peak (over 6,000m).

After all these years supporting the Charity, John received help when he attended Jubilee House on two separate occasions whilst in recovery. John says: “The Fire and Ice team purchased and donated the spinning cycles to Jubilee House a few years before, so in a roundabout way, what goes around comes around!”

WILL YOU? Leaving a legacy in your will is a wonderful way to continue your support for a cause you care about and here at The Fire Fighters Charity, we hope that you’ll choose to remember us in your will with a gift.

Leaving us a gift will help provide the vital services the Charity offers to thousands of serving and retired firefighters, fire personnel and their families, for many generations to come.

Whatever your age or stage of life, we offer a free, no obligation will-making guide.

If you are interested, email us at legacies@firefighterscharity.org.uk

GET BAKING, GAMING, WASHING OR MOWING

The generosity, commitment and enthusiasm of our fundraisers allows us to help thousands of people each year. However, fundraising needn’t involve running, rowing, climbing or swimming. Indeed, it can just as effectively involve eating, sitting, walking or playing. So why not try one of these ideas for your next fundraising event?

Board game tournament: pick a favourite board game, invite your friends to make teams, sign up to play and compete for a prize. Ask all guests to make a donation.

Dog Wash: with a group of friends offer a low-cost dog wash in your local area in exchange for a small fee.

Mow-a-thon: spend an afternoon mowing lawns in your local area in exchange for a donation.

Cake sale: why not bake a cake and sell it? It’s a simple way to raise money and will perk up the morning coffee break.

Flower bulb fundraising: selling flower bulbs to raise funds is an increasingly popular activity, it’s easy to organise and simple to do.

Quiz evenings: holding a quiz is a simple, popular and profitable way to raise funds. Decide what type of quiz to hold and ask all teams to make a donation.

We are here to help with advice, ideas and support, as well as posters. Don’t be shy, give us a call.

Let us know what your plans are and how we can help you – drop us an email at fundraising@firefighterscharity.org.uk or call us on 01256 366 581.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Eighty-six year old Denis Morgan – formerly of Middlesex and London Fire Brigade – sent us these great photos of him and his colleagues, taken at the Middlesex Fire Brigade Training School in Finchley in September 1954.

Denis is pictured second from left on the bottom row and is wondering what everyone else ended up doing. So, if you know any of the men pictured and can help Denis find out more, please do get in touch with us at shout@firefighterscharity.org.uk and we’ll pass on your details on.

Photo of colleagues taken at the Middlesex Fire Brigade training school at Finchley.

Denis Morgan is second from left on the bottom row

GIVING IN MEMORY A donation to The Fire Fighters Charity in memory of a loved one is a personal way of remembering that person whilst providing support to firefighters and their families across the UK. Any donation will go directly towards the Charity and will make a vital contribution towards helping injured firefighters and other members of the fire community.

Visit our In Memoriam online donation page for more information — www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/ in-memoriam — or speak to your funeral director, who will be able to make the arrangements for you. We can also provide you with donation envelopes, should you wish people to donate rather than give flowers at a funeral. For further information please contact our Supporter Care Team on 01256 366581 or email supportercare@firefighterscharity. org.uk.

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Denis Morgan – picture taken at the Finchley Driving School around the year 1957

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PAST AND RETIRED MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS We hope that you find this list useful, but if your association isn’t here and you’d like it to be, let us know by emailing us at shout@firefighterscharity.org.uk National Association of Retired Firefighters

narfire.org.uk

NARF Buckinghamshire

bucksvoice.net/narf

Durham and Darlington Retired Members Networking Group

xddfire.org.uk

NARF East Sussex

esfrs.org/stations/oldFriends.shtml

ECFRS Retired Members Association

essex-fire.gov.uk/Media/Retired_Members/

Hampshire Past Members Association

xhfrs.org.uk/Welfare.htm

NARF Hereford and Worcester

hwfire.org.uk/your_fire_service/narf.html

Humberside Retirement Page

facebook.com/HFRRP

London Fire Brigade Retired Members Association

lfbrma.org/

Find an old fire service friend

ex-fire.co.uk/lostfriends.html

NARF Sheffield and Rotherham

narfsheffield.org.uk

Tyne & Wear Fire & Rescue ‘Old Hands’ section

twfire.gov.uk/oldhands

NARF West Midlands Branch

wmnarf.co.uk

West Yorkshire Retired Members

westyorksfire.gov.uk/retired-members

Wiltshire Retired Firefighters Association

wrfa.org.uk/

FireNet

fire.org.uk

Chief Fire Officers Association

fire-uk.org

Keep fit by playing bowls, visit the FSSAA website

fssaa-bowls.co.uk

Firefighters Memorial Charitable Trust

firefightersmemorial.co.uk

Worshipful Company of Firefighters

firefighterscompany.org

Department of Work and Pensions

dwp.gov.uk/consultations

Civil Service Pensioners Alliance

cspa.co.uk

National Pensioner’s Convention

npcuk.org

Disclaimer: This information was collated by The Fire Fighters Charity and to our knowledge was correct at the time of going to print. We cannot be held responsible for any changes to this advice or for any external links or information.

END OF AN ERA Former Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service firefighters and staff who had served in the County Durham and Darlington headquarters, recently attended a special event to mark the end of an era and the start of a new one.

Over 240 retired and current personnel and families joined together to mark the closure of the former Headquarters in Framwellgate Moor and the opening of the new fire station.

Exhibition at Framwellgate

At the event guests were able to view an exhibition of old photographs and other memorabilia showing the service at work over the years. They were also able to inspect the fleet of vehicles, including vintage fire appliances as well as the latest equipment.

Representatives from the National Association of Retired Firefighters and The Fire Fighters Charity were also present to meet and chat to guests.

The Fire Fighters Charity would like to say a big thank you to all that attended as Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service have donated all proceeds from the day to the Charity.

Former Durham Appliances, parked up for a final line up on the forecourt alongside one of their modern counterpart

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COMPETITION

Bag a prize!

Our friends at Elvis and Kresse have supported the Charity since 2007, donating over £30,000 to help us help more of the people who first used their products, albeit in a different capacity. Selling a broad range of bags, belts and accessories, made from decommissioned fire hose, the Elvis and Kresse team has kindly given us this fantastic Military Messenger bag, worth £215, to give away in this issue of Shout!

The bag is made from genuine decommissioned fire hose and has a reclaimed military-grade canvas flap and parachute silk lining. Previously deployed in active duty for up to 30 years, fighting fires around the UK, the hose is perfectly robust for an everyday bag and the full length flap will keep your valuables safe. It also has a floating padded section for your laptop (up to 15”) and another for your tablet.

To win this great prize, send your answer to this simple question together with your name, address and a contact phone number to – shout@firefighterscharity.org.uk or Shout! Magazine, The Fire Fighters Charity, Level 6, Belvedere, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG.

What space age piece of technology has the Charity recently secured for each of its centres to support in the rehabilitation of beneficiaries?

A) Double-gravity medicine balls B) Zero-gravity trampolines C) Anti-gravity treadmills Clue: You’ll find the answer somewhere in the magazine

The winner will be picked at random from all correct entries – received on or before September 30, 2015 – and notified via email or telephone.

Your information: The information you provide will be used by the Charity to fulfil your request. Your details may also be used to keep you informed about the Charity – please call 01256 366581 if you do not wish us to contact you.

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RAGS TO RICHES

Help us to turn old clothes into ÂŁ500,000 worth of life-changing opportunities for our beneficiaries.

Today over 600 fire stations across the UK with a Fire Fighters Charity textile bank are busy collecting clothes that will raise around ÂŁ400,000 for us this year.

However, we really want to reach the HALF A MILLION milestone and to do so, we need the help of you and your fire station.

Join our recycling scheme and secure a textile bank for your station by contacting Sales Manager Kevin Biles on 01256 366573 or kbiles@firefighterscharity.org.uk

RECYCLE FOR US Telephone: 01256 366 573

Registered office: The Fire Fighters Charity, Level 6, Belvedere, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG Charity registered in England and Wales (1093387) and Scotland (SC040096)

Royal Patron Her Majesty The Queen