Find out how Fire Fighters Charity has supported service users 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.
Paul Astle, who was a firefighter with South Yorkshire FRS for 18 years, was his wife’s full-time carer for several years. He says spending time on our online Living Well Groups became a break he really needed in the pandemic. Calum Balding, a wholetime firefighter with North Yorkshire FRS, was unable to do any exercise or work for more than a year as he battled bowel cancer. Here he reveals how he was helped on his journey back to fitness… Alan Swales has joined our online Living Well Groups after supporting us for decades. He says they have helped him with increasing loneliness during the pandemic, as he cared single-handedly for his wife. Firefighter John Casey says, having been supported by the charity throughout a difficult few years in which he received a life-altering health diagnosis, he feels comforted knowing it’s there for him in the years to come. When firefighter Chris Smyth suffered a sudden health scare, it triggered months of crippling anxiety. But after reaching out to the charity, he says he’s finally found the help he needed to feel in control again.
Paul: “The Living Well Groups offer that bit of escapism when you’re feeling lonely”
Calum: “It’s thanks to your donations that I’ve been helped amid my recovery from cancer”
Alan: “Your donations and support ensured I wasn’t alone throughout the pandemic”
John: “After hitting rock bottom, knowing the charity is there is a huge reassurance”
Chris: “In our job, there’s lots of testosterone flying about – you just need to ask for help”
