Brian: “The fire service is a family – having Living Well Groups keeps us in touch”
When retired firefighter Brian Hull’s wife passed away in 2019, he received support from his former colleagues through the Charity’s Living Well Groups.
Real life story categories
Find out how The Fire Fighters Charity has supported beneficiaries across the UK and how you can share your story with the fire community. Click categories or regions below to filter the list of stories.
Lyndon Thomas has spent over 70 years feeling grateful for the support he received from The Fire Fighters Charity when he was a little boy, following the death of his firefighter father in the 1940s. When attending the will reading of his big brother after he had died unexpectedly, Mark Nicholson was surprised and proud to discover Paul had left £20,000 to The Fire Fighters Charity as a way of saying thank you for the support he had received during his 30 year career in Devon. For retired South Wales firefighter Roger Pugh, our Aberdare Living Well Group provides a much-needed source of friendship and community, and helps combat the loneliness he feels after the loss of his wife. Self-employed carpenter Michelle Jones-Cheung reached breaking point when long-term recovery from surgery left her facing potential bankruptcy. As the daughter of a firefighter and brought up not to talk about her feelings, it took a breakdown during a visit to Harcombe House to make her realise it's okay to be honest with others and with yourself.
Lyndon: “I’ve never forgotten the help you gave my family 70 years ago”
Mark: “It’s comforting to know my brother has done some good with his money”
Roger: “The group helps with the loneliness”
Michelle: “I realised it’s okay to be honest about your feelings”