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.
Victoria Kidner has shared her experience of losing her husband, Dan, to suicide in July 2022 and why she’s supporting our new crisis line and online suicide prevention and postvention resources. 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. Crew Commander, Darran Gough, was invited to Harcombe House with his wife following a difficult few months and a particularly traumatic shout – and he says it was the break they both really needed. Firefighter Rachel Streeting, from Warwickshire FRS, received our support following a back injury which she feared could end her career on operational duty – and she says we helped her mental health, as well as physical. Paul Yates is taking on the 2023 London Marathon in memory of his partner Cathy’s brother, Andy Moore, who passed away in 2020. Paul now hopes to raise awareness of the mental health support we offer.
Victoria: “If the crisis line helps one person, that’s one family that doesn’t experience the trauma we have”
Luke: “I’d been keeping it all to myself for so long – talking to someone helped unload my mind”
Darran: “Being able to take some time out to relax was a fantastic reboot for both of us”
Rachel: “You helped me gain the mental confidence to carry my job out after recovery”
Cathy and Paul: “My firefighter brother took his own life – this challenge is a tribute to him”
