Essex County Fire and Rescue Service Celebrates Volunteers' Week with award ceremony

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) hosted an event to mark Volunteers' Week and celebrate the exceptional contributions made by its own dedicated volunteers. 

The evening, held at Service Headquarters in Kelvedon, brought a number of the 35-strong volunteering team who selflessly dedicate their time and effort to serve the community. 

Attendees enjoyed a buffet and networking opportunities throughout the evening, leading up to an awards ceremony, where the exceptional commitment of the volunteers was recognised and applauded.

Collectively, over the last year ECFRS volunteers have contributed an astounding 6,000+ hours of their time, showcasing their unwavering dedication to the Essex community. 

Among the recipients of the recognition and long service awards were Amanda Dodge and David Scott, who have each served for a decade, Mick Ford, who has dedicated 14 years, and Murray Beale, who has admirably volunteered for 15 years.

Different volunteers carry out different roles within the Service, including Community Safety activities, where volunteers actively engage in fire, road safety, and water safety education. Additionally, their contributions extend to Home Safety visits, Essex Fire Museum, and emergency response. 

The dedication of the volunteers has resulted in almost 500 home safety visits conducted during the past year alone. 

Volunteers have been an integral part of numerous external events, sharing safety information with large audiences and interacting with over 14,000 people through the museum.

Will Newman, Head of Prevention at ECFRS, expressed ECFRS’ gratitude for the extraordinary support provided by the volunteers. 

Will said: "Our volunteers are the backbone of our community safety work, and their commitment and selflessness are truly commendable. Their invaluable contributions, spanning over a decade in some cases, have not only enhanced community safety but also instilled a sense of pride and unity within the Essex community. We are grateful for their ongoing dedication and support."

Jane Gardner, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I met some incredible people and heard some amazing stories about volunteering activities during the event. These people give their time so generously and they connect us in a really different way to members of our public and our communities. I can’t thank them enough for what they do.”

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is currently recruiting more volunteers, particularly for home fire safety visits. 

If you are interested in applying visit essex-fire.gov.uk/volunteering