Find out how Fire Fighters Charity has supported service users 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.
Ian Cruikshank, a Northern Ireland firefighter, has had support for several years from our nurses at Jubilee House and says they’ve been a valuable part of his physical and mental journey. Northern Ireland firefighter Keith Shields faced months off work when he was left dealing with long-term symptoms of Covid-19 – before being told he had three blocked arteries in his heart. He says our Hope Programme helped him deal with the mental toll it had on him. When Owen Spiers managed to overcome 20 years of addiction, he thought he’d finally beaten his demons. However, his mental health later hit rock bottom and he says the charity was a major lifeline. Chris Morrison is on a mission to prove that having a colostomy bag is not life-inhibiting. So much so, the Northern Irish temporary Watch Commander is trekking the Sahara Desert this autumn, to raise money for the charity as a way of saying thank you for helping him with his recovery. 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.
Ian: “The nursing team helped me come to terms with having MND and re-gain some independence”
Keith: “The Hope Programme helped remove all the anxiety and pressure I was feeling”
Owen: “It’s a safety net when you feel you’re going to step off the tight rope”
Chris: “You helped me realise having a stoma isn’t the end of the world”
Heather: The trailblazer who paved the way for female firefighters in Northern Ireland
