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Real life stories

Find out how Fire Fighters Charity has supported beneficiaries across the UK and how you can share your story with the fire community.

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Share your story
A man in a fire service uniform stands outside a fire station, with a red Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service vehicle parked behind him. The fire station building is visible in the background.

Paddy: “There are a lot of people who don’t know they need help – I was one of them”

Northern Ireland Group Commander, Paddy Quinn, tried our HOPE Programme so he could recommend it to his trainees, never expecting the benefits it would have for him too.

19 Jan 2026

A man wearing sunglasses, a black cap, and a blue backpack takes a selfie outdoors in a rocky, mountainous area with snow-covered peaks in the background, under bright sunlight.

John: “I would wake up in panics, to the point I was scared of going to sleep”

John Aitchison has candidly shared his journey with mental health challenges to encourage others across the fire service to reach out for help sooner than he did.

22 Dec 2025

An older man and woman sit closely together outdoors, smiling at the camera. They are surrounded by wooden picnic tables and a white fence in the background on a sunny day.

Pat: “Fire Fighters Charity has helped keep me connected to the fire family after my husband died”

When Pat Johnson’s beloved husband, Bill, passed away, she not only received support from her own family – but her wider “fire family” too. She shares how, through stays at our centres and Living Well Groups, she’s gone on to establish lifelong friendships.

19 Dec 2025

A man in a maroon hoodie sits on a green bench in a park, holding a smiling baby wearing a blue hat. Playground equipment and grass are visible in the background on a sunny day.

Lewis: “By managing your mental wellbeing early, you’re ready when life throws challenges your way”

Watch Manager Lewis Jeffery has become one of our volunteer facilitators on the HOPE Programme after discovering the difference it can make to overall mental health first-hand.

09 Dec 2025

A smiling man wearing a helmet, shorts, and a backpack is riding a black bicycle on a paved path with grass and trees in the background.

Tony: “We’re a family, no matter who we are, and the charity will always be there for us”

Tony Terry retired from the fire service over 20 years ago – but he says visiting our centre following an operation felt like “being back in the fire service again”.

03 Dec 2025

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Royal Patron: His Majesty The King
Fire Fighters Charity, Marine Court, Fitzalan Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5NF
Registered charity in England and Wales (1093387), Scotland (SC040096) and Isle of Man (1363)
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