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.
Andrew Impey is a remarkable young man. Not only is he raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity by trying to visit all fire stations in the UK, but as an autistic teenager, he is also raising awareness of the disability among the fire and rescue community. He tells us all about the journey his One Lad’s Challenge has taken him on. For someone who was told he would never walk again, watching Bob Stovell walk through the woods with his daughter, Jo, is a pretty special sight. As the cover stars of our Spring issue of Shout! magazine, the pair tell us about the accident that changed their family's lives, and how the Charity supported them in the years that followed. Only a few hours into his stag do in Magaluf in the summer of 2016, the course of James Thorpe’s life was altered in just a few seconds when he ran into the sea, fell, and broke his neck. Here, the former London and Norfolk firefighter shares his story. As a word of warning, some readers may find the account of his accident distressing. A little-known relaxation method helped Tayla Marshall combat the crippling the anxiety that had all but taken over her life. And she learned it during a visit to Jubilee House. Heather Smart was awarded an MBE for her role in encouraging more women to join the NI Fire and Rescue Service. The Ballyclare mum-of-one tells The Belfast Telegraph about the triumph of breaking the glass ceiling — and the trauma that came with the job.
Andrew: “With my autism, I didn’t used to speak. But the fire service helped”
Bob and Jo Stovell: “The Charity put a spark back into my Dad”
James: “You don’t think you’ll ever need help. I certainly never thought I would.”
Tayla: “It was like this massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders”
Heather: The trailblazer who paved the way for female firefighters in Northern Ireland
