Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging women and other under-represented parts of the community to ‘have a go’ at being a firefighter, ahead of a wholetime recruitment campaign next month.
Six events have been organised at fire stations across the Service area, to give hands-on experience to people who might otherwise think that being a firefighter is not for them.
Group Manager Karen Adams said: “Nationally, the fire and rescue service is 95% male and 96% white, so we are trying to remove any barriers that might deter women and ethnic minorities from applying to be a firefighter. It is a physical role, and I think that worries a lot of people, especially women, so the ‘have a go’ days are designed to show exactly what we do and what is needed. We’ve also designed a 12-week fitness programme to help people achieve the required level while they are going through the application process.”
She added: “When we appoint, it will be the best people for the job, so we want to strongest possible pool of applicants to choose from. By running these events, we’re saying to all parts of our community that being a firefighter can be a career choice for anyone – so come and meet us, ‘have a go’ and see whether it feels like a good fit for you.”
Each of the weekend sessions will run from 10am to 1pm, and full address details of each fire station can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/fire-stations:
- Saturday 21 October – Springbourne fire station, Bournemouth
- Sunday 22 October – Salisbury fire station
- Saturday 28 October – Poole fire station
- Sunday 29 October – Trowbridge fire station
More information, including a link to the 12 week fitness programme, and details of the application process, can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/be-one-of-us
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