A smiling woman in a dark uniform sits at a table, holding a mug. The background is softly blurred, and another person is partially visible in the foreground.

Amy: “As a firefighter, talking about feeling anxious is really scary – but the support was phenomenal”

Gloucestershire Watch Manager, Amy Brown, has shared her experience of our Reset Programme at Harcombe House – and how it sparked deep friendships with others across the fire services community.

“I knew I’d either be going off sick – which I really didn’t want, because I love the job – or I needed help. So I knew I needed to bite the bullet and do something for myself.”

These are the inspirational words from Amy Brown, a Watch Manager with Gloucestershire FRS, who has shared how a week’s stay at Harcombe House on our Reset Programme helped her while she dealt with mounting anxiety.

Amy had begun having panic attacks last year during a period of change in her life, but tried to continue working through it. However, when it began impacting her sleep, she knew she needed support.

@therunningfirefighter

A week at the fire fighters charity ❤️ Really was just what I needed, a full on schedule with the most supportive group of inspiring individuals ❤️ From journaling, to creative tasks and wet walks, to workshops on boundaries and group sessions such as stretching and Tai Chi: I cannot recommend it enough. Sometimes you don’t know what you need until it’s put infront of you and I certainly didn’t. As I said before it doesn’t fix all your problems but it certainly gives you time away and tools to start making small changes. The best part is I have been sleeping and eating better, two things that were a struggle before. I now have a wider support network outside of my bubble to bounce off and lean on. The fire fighters charity do a lot of diferent programmes so if you are struggling or just need some advice I highly recommend giving them a call. Or if you have any questions please ask ❤️ #firefighterscharity #MentalHealthMatters #firefightersoftiktok🔥🚒👍 #FireService #FirefighterLife

♬ original sound – Penny B Hollywood

And after previously being helped following a physical injury at Marine Court, our centre in Littlehampton, she knew where to turn:

“I visited Marine Court in October 2024 after I broke my foot while I was running. Running is literally everything to me, so to have time away from is and off work was massive for me. Someone put me in touch with Fire Fighters Charity and they really helped me. I was back running – and on the run – soon after.”

Two women in dark uniforms sit at a table, smiling and laughing. One is looking at her phone while the other looks at her. Mugs and a water bottle are on the table. The setting appears casual and relaxed.

It was just under a year later, however, when Amy says her mental health deteriorated.

“I’ve always been a little bit anxious in life. I always want to make sure things are done right and I’m the best that I can be, but that can then turn into anxiety,” Amy says.

“I was promoted to Watch Manager in 2025 and it meant I was moved to a new Watch, so I think losing the stability of my old Watch plus new responsibilities got on top of me.

A woman in a black athletic shirt smiles for a selfie on a muddy hilltop with earbuds in. The background shows a panoramic view of a town, fields, and a cloudy sky.

“The anxiety started filtering into my home life, even the thought of doing anything would cause little panic attacks. I was able to keep working, but I’d have to keep reassuring myself.

“I then stopped sleeping properly while on night shifts because I was so anxious about the bells waking me up – and that’s when I realised how bad it had got. A job I’d always loved was making me really anxious. It was really scary to be honest.”

A smiling woman in a pink coat holds a red cup and a heart-shaped treat, standing in front of a large, decorated Christmas tree with glowing lights at night.

Amy spoke to her manager, who suggested she contact us and that, coupled with the knowledge that a friend of hers had also recently been helped, was all she needed to prompt her to get in touch.

We recommended Amy attend our Reset Programme at Harcombe House in Devon, which aims to help individuals with their overall mental wellbeing and resilience, through group-based workshops and activities.

“The programme was absolutely phenomenal, I feel so different now,” she says.

A woman with long brown hair smiles, taking a selfie in front of a large poster showing herself in a fire and rescue uniform at an indoor facility. A fire extinguisher and shelves with bags are visible in the background.

“What shocked me the most was how close we became as a group. We were from all walks of life, we had a firefighter who’d retired, people in different departments, and from the very first session I realised it was going to be bigger for me than I’d ever expected.”

Amy says while she’d always used running as a coping mechanism previously, she’s since learnt to stop and meditate more – even if it’s as simple as sitting outside to find a moment of calm.

Now she hopes her experiences will encourage others to reach out, or open up, if they’re ever going through a challenging time.

“Since Covid, mental health is such a huge challenge that people don’t walk about enough. I’d love everyone who’s feeling low to reach out to somebody,” she says.

And following her visit, Amy has also organised a series of fundraisers on station including Open Days and Car Washes, not only to raise funds but also awareness of the support those funds go towards.

If you feel you’d benefit from our health and wellbeing support, you can call our Support Line on 0800 389 8820, make an enquiry online or click below:

Need help?