Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service celebrates after Support Staffordshire Volunteer Star Awards

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is thrilled to be able to celebrate three winners and a commendation at the recent Support Staffordshire Volunteer Star Awards 2021.

Described as Staffordshire’s ‘own mini Pride of Britain Awards’ the awards, which were held virtually, aim to publicly recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements and commitment of volunteers and organisations who go the extra mile to support Staffordshire communities.

All three award winners are involved in the service’s Safe+Sound project, which was set up by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service with the aim of supporting communities to make informed and positive lifestyle choices, improving their health, safety and wellbeing. The project, run virtually at the moment, runs a variety of interactive and practical workshops for children, young people and over 60s delivered by multiple partners and agencies. The topics include calling 999, fire safety, dealing with accidents and emergencies in the home, electrical safety, water safety, road safety, online safety and a challenge with Time4Sport.

Andy Sutton won the Volunteering Support for Young People award in the Staffordshire Moorlands awards. He has volunteered with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for 10 years and has many volunteer roles such as volunteer cadet instructor, community safety volunteer, safe and well volunteer, post incident questionnaire volunteer. Andy supports Safe+Sound in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Carly Leese won the Personal Achievement Award in the Newcastle-under-Lyme awards. She started volunteering for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service in 2019 and supports Safe+Sound in Newcastle-under-Lyme and other areas across the county.

Andy Bennett won the Volunteering Support for Young People award in the Tamworth awards. He has been volunteering with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for two years. He supports Safe+Sound in Tamworth.

Jane Evans has received a commendation for Volunteering Support for Young People in the Cannock awards. She has been volunteering with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for four years, supporting a number of different volunteering activities engaging with the community at events. Jane is currently supporting the Safe+Sound project in Cannock. More recently, due to Covid restrictions, she has continued to support the service by producing her own short safety videos from home for the Safe+Sound weekly online broadcasts via the LearnLive platform. Jane has also been volunteering at local Covid vaccination centres.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, Becci Bryant, said: “I am delighted that four of our volunteers who had been shortlisted won or were commended their categories. It is just brilliant news. “I know that Andy, Carly, Andy and Jane volunteer because of the difference their help makes to others and not to win awards. However, this recognition is extremely well deserved and I am really pleased for all of them.” If you want to get involved in the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s volunteering programme visit our website for more information.