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.
When Simon Porter, a firefighter with Essex County FRS, was involved in a horror paramotoring accident, he thought it spelled the end of his career. Here, he and his wife Gemma share how we helped him get back on the run - and boost his mental wellbeing in the process. Firefighter Luke Kavanagh shares how he began his journey to improve his mental wellbeing by visiting our app – My Fire Fighters Charity – before getting in touch with us for further counselling support. They’re there for us at the end of the phone when we need them, but many may not be aware of the mental toll working in Control Rooms can have. Here, Melanie Gibb shares why having our support available is essential for her and her colleagues. Piotr Gudan, an on-call firefighter with Scottish FRS, has received both physical and mental health support from us and says it’s a reassurance to have us there in the future, given the huge demands of his role. Alan Simcox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in February 2023 following years of symptoms he couldn’t explain – to the point his mental health was impacted. Here, he shares his story…
Gemma: “My husband came home a different person – this is my thank you to you”
Luke: “I’d been keeping it all to myself for so long – talking to someone helped unload my mind”
Melanie: “Control has exceptionally high stress levels – the Charity is more important than ever”
Piotr: “Not many people realise the toll of on-call firefighting – it’s tough but rewarding”
Alan: “I climbed Scafell Pike after I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s as a thank you for your support”
