About Community Development

Fire and rescue services have a huge role to play in tackling wider social issues when working with anyone in their local communities and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s Community Development & Safeguarding Team is paving the way when engaging with a diverse community.

We have been able to implement and utilise an effective team who can understand the needs of their partners and those participating in our intervention programmes so we can effectively influence positive behaviour change. These programmes are; Education in Schools, Firebreak, Fire Cadets, Duke of Edinburgh and Juvenile Fire Setters Scheme. The variety of engagements now allows us to interact with all cross sections of society - from school age children with education visits to adults from a variety of partners on Firebreak.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is able to boast a “World Downs Syndrome Day Award” from Downs Syndrome International for our work with Extra 21 – Downs Syndrome Association which recognised the schemes outstanding achievements. Our course delivery has been used in America, Australia and around the UK. The Team have also been recognised during the Fire & Emergency Service Excellence Awards – winning Team of the Year in 2019 for the significant impact achieved during all areas of their delivery.

Being known for the creation of bespoke courses has resulted in us advising other fire and rescue services nationally on our Firebreak programmes and has recently seen us become the Centre of Excellent for Duke of Edinburgh delivery as part of Fire Cadets due to our in-depth knowledge and experience