Volunteer Feature - Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) does much more than just respond to emergencies, they also carry out activities to protect lives and properties – and is now recruiting volunteers.
Volunteer opportunities range from sharing fire prevention information locally to helping vulnerable people keep warm and safe, with plenty in between too. Many of the roles are flexible and most are available throughout Bedfordshire so take your pick!
Here is a full list of the BFRS roles we have on our Simply Connect system.
For all sections of the community we need face to face engagement, targeted event organisation or attendance and public speaking activities as well as informational literature placement and replenishment in community outlets. We are seeking to be actively engaging with all faiths, cultures and ages in the most appropriate and respectful way.
We need to increase significantly the number of homes we visit to achieve the required impact of our community fire prevention work. There is a clear relationship between the amount of prevention work we undertake and the number of ires in the community. Volunteer Ambassadors are planned to be an essential means of increasing the level of contact and communications we have with a range of cultures, faiths and seldom reached communities in Bedfordshire.
Volunteers will receive referrals from a variety of sources including BFRS own staff, Local Authorities, Voluntary sector organisations or members of the public. They will visit people’s homes and other community settings. The role seeks to ensure that the householder is supported to become aware of and access any and all means of support including Local Councils, Energy Companies and grant making bodies
Diversity and Inclusion Support
Some communities are underserved in terms of provision of home and personal safety advice and home safety assessments and for which language or understanding can be a barrier.
This role is flexible and the volunteer can agree which aspects suit their personal preferences, needs and skillset. Volunteers could find themselves visiting people's homes, community settings and events or hot-desking in Service premises.
As well as responding to emergencies the Fire Service undertakes other activities to reduce risks in the community that help keep people, environments and property safer. Home Fire Safety assessments, which include personal lifestyle and wellbeing checks undertaken in people’s homes, are an important part of fire prevention and we need volunteers to enable us to visit more people.
We need volunteers who can attend (and maybe even organise?) community events, act as our representatives on the ground and undertake public speaking or make presentations in a wide variety of contexts to help share messages on fire prevention and relevant information.
If you would like to register an interest in the opportunities above, then create an account on the Simply Connect volunteering platform and the group will contact you to follow through. Any problems, or if you simply wish to talk more generally about volunteering, give us a call on 01234 354366 or email to volunteering@cvsbeds.org.uk. We are here to help you.
