A team of staff - brought together because of their expertise in dealing with diverse communities – is now working with firefighters across the capital, building links with local people.
Brigade staff from all of London’s boroughs can call on the team for help with groups specific to their neighbourhood, and team members are now at work making links with local people and organisations.
Team members are assigned to short projects (2-4 months) targeting groups like young people, older people or ethnic/faith groups and the projects will aim to make local people more aware of fire safety and the services that the Brigade can offer.
Specific projects now running across London include:
• Long term unemployed parents in Tower Hamlets
• Muslim Community in Hounslow
• Alcohol Strategy in Lewisham
• Korean Community in Kingston
• Muslim Community in Waltham Forest
• Pakistani/Bangladeshi Community in Wandsworth
• Travellers in Barking/Dagenham
• East/West Africans in Hammersmith
• Muslim Community in Ealing
• Looked after Children in Bexley
• Portuguese Community in Lambeth
• Chinese Community in Westminster
• Vulnerable Groups Co-ordination Strategy in Sutton
• Somalian Community in Haringey
• Learning Disabilities in Southwark
London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Chair, Val Shawcross said: “London is incredibly diverse and is home to many communities who may not have access to information about fire safety. Our new team will work alongside firefighters across the capital to decide where we could make a real difference in preventing damage to homes, injuries or even loss of life.”
London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner for Community Safety, Steve Turek said: “Though accidental fires in the home are decreasing, there were still over 6000 in London last year. On average, around 50 Londoners die every year following fires in the home. The Fire Community Safety Officers are part of a range of initiatives that will reduce accidental fires and make London a safer city.”
Divya Patel, who is working on a project with looked after children in Bexley, said: “This project gives me an opportunity to work with a specific group of people, educating them about fire safety and building a relationship between them and the Brigade. Simply getting a smoke alarm and testing it regularly could make the difference between life and death so the first thing I’m advising people and families to do is get a free home fire safety check by calling 08000 28 44 28.”
Journalists who require more information about any of the individual projects taking place across London can call 020 7587 4063.
Note to editors:
• The Fire Community Safety Team has been established through funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government.
• The team have been recruited from a range of backgrounds and their skills include particular languages and experience of working with the public and carrying out community projects.
Members of the media can obtain further information from the press office on:
telephone number: 020 8536 5922
email: press@london-fire.gov.uk
