Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do – giving their time to raise awareness and vital funds, while strengthening connections across the fire services community.
One of those incredible roles is Living Well Group Coordinator, a position Michele Carter has proudly held for the last few years, which brings retired members of the fire service together to build vital social connections.
But Michele’s passion for Fire Fighters Charity’s work goes back much further than that. Years ago, she spent time as a home visitor for us, offering direct support to others in our community, alongside her career in Fire Control and later administration for Cambridgeshire FRS.
Her dedication didn’t stop there. For 50 years, Michele has also run a fitness and dance class, raising thousands of pounds for us along the way.
Now retired for 13 years, Michele continues to give back through her volunteering.
“Fire Fighters Charity is still just as important to me now as it was in my career,” says Michele. “The class and now the Living Well Groups have kept me in touch with so many former colleagues. It’s a huge part of my life and a privilege to do.”
For Michele, the connection is personal:
“At one stage of my career I had a very serious bone marrow disease. I was in my early 30s at the time, and I was lucky enough to go to Harcombe House,” she says. “It was a rest and recovery week really, I was very poorly at the time.
“They attempted three times to get me there, just to have a break, but every time I deteriorated so we had to cancel. I remember when I got there, they all said ‘at last!’
“I was ill for five years in the end, and it brought my career in Fire Control to an end.
“I found the time at Harcombe House – and the service I could see being offered to others – so important, and that’s when I started trying to introduce it to everyone I could.”
Michele had been running the fitness class for several years at that point, but it further reinforced why she was doing it.
“I started the exercise class at Dogthorpe Fire Station when I was in the police force, before I even joined the fire service,” she explains. “I would teach women working in the fire service, as well as wives and girlfriends, at the fire station. I then carried it on when I joined the service myself.
“It’s been going 50 years now and I think we’ve raised over £20,000 for the charity in that time.”
Now, Michele often runs into former colleagues and people she supported through her home visitor role in the Living Well Groups she runs – which feels like a ‘full circle’ moment.
“The social connection between the members is unbelievable – including for myself, because I’m seeing people I worked with all those years ago,” she says.
“Listening to them is amazing, they’re not only talking about the past, they’re talking about present day too.
“So many of them come to me with challenges they’re facing and ask about the charity – I can then guide them to get that support and ensure they’re aware it’s there for them. It’s really nice knowing I’m sending them in the right direction.
“It’s a very large part of my life.”
Find out more about our volunteering opportunities:
And 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: