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Membership of professional organisations

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service work with a number of organisations at national and local level to support its work in the area of equality, diversity and inclusion and demonstrate commitment.

The Service benefits from advice and expertise, opportunities for joint working and sharing best practice as well as regular updates, events and conferences.

Armed Forces Covenant

Armed Forces Covenant. Employer recognition scheme, gold award

DFRS hold the Armed Forces Covenant 'Gold Award' showing their commitment to supporting Armed Forces Veterans, Reservists, their partners and families, and Cadet Forces. This commitment is reflected in the work of our Veterans Network and our recruitment and employment policies that support the wider Armed Forces community.

DFRS have an active Veterans Network. It allows members who are ex-service, current reservists and those interested in supporting the Armed Forces community to come together to share information, learn, network and support each other as well as the Armed Forces community as a whole. 
 
The Network reps are Crew Manager Adam Gouldson and Watch Manager Nathan Breakspear.  
You can reach out to the network reps by emailing them directly or via Veterans@Derbys-Fire.Gov.UK.
 
Our Veterans Network also has 3 members who have undertaken the same training as the Service's Blue Light Champions. We felt it maybe easier for Veterans to speak to one another due to having similar shared experiences. These members are Adam Gouldson, Becky Hinchley and Gary McGee. 

Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA)

Gold flame in black circle to left of following text. AFSA Asian fire service association corporate member

The AFSA is an independent inclusive employer led support group with the desire to raise the profile of Asian staff and associated issues. At present, it has 29 Fire and Rescue Services and three non FRS organisations who are members.

AFSA works with Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) to mainstream subjects around equality and diversity in two priority areas:

  • Service provision and delivery
  • Employment policy and practice

The AFSA Vision is: ‘The Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA) will work with the National Fire and Rescue Service and supporting agencies to enhance equality and diversity and its associated values’.

Disability Confident

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service is a Disability Confident Leader.

Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with health conditions. The Disability Confident scheme has taken over from the previous Two Ticks Positive about Disabled People scheme.

The scheme supports and highlights organisations’ commitment to:

  1. Challenging negative attitudes towards disability
  2. Promoting disability equality
  3. Removing barriers to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions
  4. Ensuring that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

Stonewall UK

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service works closely with Stonewall, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights charity, to help create an inclusive working environment for our employees.

All people, without exception, have a right to be themselves without fear of abuse or discrimination. DFRS continues to work with local LGBT+ groups both internally and externally to ensure that all events, such as open days and community engagement, are accessible, inclusive and open to all.

2018/19 has seen our LGBT+ & Allies network facilitate various LGBT+ awareness sessions and work towards the second LGBT+ Conference on 12th June 2019, which has seen our Stonewall ranking increase by 140 places to 127th overall in the country, which also means we score highly when compared to other Fire & Rescue Services.

In truth, we still have some way to go, but we are determined to reach out to all our communities and make our Service one that is recognised as accessible to all people, both as an employer and a service provider.

Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion

The Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (ENEI) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion in the workplace. ENEI provides advice, training events and resources to supporting the Service’s equality, diversity and inclusion objectives.

 

Women in the Fire Service

WFS, women in the fire service UK. Purple lettering on white background.

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service is a member of Women in the Fire Service (WFS) UK, and women working in any Fire and Rescue Service can become individual members, while anyone who supports the aims of the network can become an affiliate member.

Since its formation, WFS have sought to influence the equality agenda, taking active roles in research, supporting positive action initiatives, working with the government in nationwide campaigns for recruitment and playing a part in national groups with other stakeholders. WFS is recognised nationally, holding a seat on the Fire Sector Federation, amongst other inputs to the local and national agenda.