Joints and musculoskeletal issues are some of the most common reasons for sick leave in the fire service, so ensuring you have support available to you – both in your career and into retirement – is vital.
With that in mind, we now run a Joint and Mobility Health 5-day programme at our centres on certain weeks throughout the year, aimed at helping individuals awaiting joint replacement surgery (predominantly hip and knee), anyone with significant arthritis, or anyone who is more than six-weeks post op from joint replacement surgery.
The programme gives participants the opportunity to learn more about how to manage worn out joints and exercise carefully and safely.
There is also the chance to partake in group exercise sessions (both in and out of a pool), as well as educational session on the importance of joint health and ways of looking after your joints throughout your life.
One beneficiary who attended the week at Marine Court in October 2024 – which was generously sponsored by our corporate partner, Tuffking – told us: “I am a wholetime firefighter who is recovering from an ACL reconstruction and all the physios were great, as they had your interests in their best interests.
“They push you beyond what you believe you can do and really encourage you to be confident and positive. The overall stay was amazing and the level of services and facilities cannot be frowned upon, especially as this is a charity. I will be encouraging colleagues who need physio or help to definitely get in touch.”
Manufacturer Giffard Newton Limited and their Tuffking brand, which is one of the oldest and most renowned fire boot and safety footwear manufacturers in the UK, sponsored the week with a £10,000 donation to us and visited our centre during the week to meet participants.
You can find out more about the partnership here.
If you know a business which could be interesting in sponsoring one of our residential programmes, you can see our upcoming dates here and find out more about corporate possibilities by emailing our Corporate Partnerships Manager, Debbie, at drushbrooke@firefighterscharity.org.uk.
And to enquire about attending one of our residential programmes, click here.