Fighting fire, supporting local charities
25th July 2025
The hot and dry summer months present numerous challenges for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS), including an increased risk of wildfires and other emergencies. Beyond their frontline duties, and since 2006, ECFRS has been collaborating with us to support a wide range of local charities and voluntary groups.
Firefighters in Essex are always at the ready to respond to a wide range of emergencies across the county and many lives have been saved thanks to their bravery and dedication.
As well as tackling fires, their skills are also in constant demand to deal with road traffic collisions, specialist rescues, maritime incidents, flooding and incidents involving hazardous materials.
The high-profile work of fire service staff in Essex is well recognised. But their work in the community, although less well known, is also of vital importance. From educating young people about the dangers of fire to protecting vulnerable people, through fire prevention measures in their homes, this work helps to make Essex a safer place.
Community groups and charities making a positive impact in the county, tackling a wide range of social issues, have also been given much-needed support by the charitable fund set up by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service nearly two decades ago.
The fund is managed by us and since it was established, the fund has awarded grants worth almost £200,000.
Neil Cross, Director of Finance, Procurement and Improvement with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: “People identify us with the shiny red trucks they see when we are out on call. But the fire service is so much more than that. We are actively engaged in fire prevention and detection work as well as a wide range of projects to promote safety in the community.
“Working with Essex Community Foundation helps us to achieve our strategic goals, and the grants awarded from our charitable fund make a real difference. When so many charities are struggling to raise the vital funds they need, it can be difficult to prioritise and decide which organisation should receive the money. ECF helps us to understand where our funding will have the greatest impact.
“Through the Community Foundation we have found out about some organisations we were not familiar with and have been able to make visits to them to find out first hand about their work. Through this we can sometimes identify people who are at risk and may need some fire prevention updates and advice.
“Our Firebreak scheme (pictured left) is a great example of our intervention work with young people. The five-day courses are held at our operational fire stations, and they help young people learn about structure, discipline and working as a team. Climbing ladders, spraying water and engaging with fire service staff all prove very popular and we have had very good feedback about the benefits of the programme. By the end of the course there are a lot of bright faces and the young people have developed some life skills.
“A recent grant from our fund has also given support to the Braintree Youth Project (pictured right), a charity working with disadvantaged and vulnerable young people. I was very pleased to be able to make a visit, spend some time with them and learn more about their work. Becoming involved in this way is more than just handing over a cheque.” 
Other local organisations recently supported by the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service Charitable Fund, through grants from ECF, include:
- London Bus Theatre Company – to support a project highlighting issues around alcohol and binge drinking for vulnerable Year 6 young people living in Clacton-on-Sea.
- Rainbow Services – to expand a community youth project in Harlow helping young people to reengage with education and supporting them to build more positive futures.
- BASICS Essex, a charity of volunteer doctors and paramedics who respond to incidents at the request of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust. They received a grant to help with the running costs of their office base in Chelmsford, where they deliver training, store equipment and meet with volunteers, clinicians and partners.
- Maldon District Community Voluntary Services – to improve the safety of Men’s Sheds across Essex and increase the benefit for those who attend by enabling First Aid Training, PAT Testing training, networking forums and other activities that promote the health, wellbeing and safety of Shedders.
“Essex Community Foundation is a fantastic organisation and working with them and attending their events is a privilege,” said Neil.
“We are also very pleased and proud to be involved in the annual High Sheriff’s Awards, which ECF organises, to recognise the work of voluntary organisation working across Essex and their contribution to community safety.
“It is very important to hear and see a lot of the good work being done in the community and hearing some of the stories is really moving.”
Providing home safety fire visits, fitting smoke alarms in the homes of people who may be at risk, is another important aspect of the community work carried out by staff from the Essex County Fire and Rescue service.
Fire station open days also help to educate people about staying safe and the events are well-attended across the county, providing fun for families and also highlighting recruitment opportunities for potential fire fighters of the future.
With extreme weather conditions bringing increased risks of fire and floods, plus social issues having an impact on community safety, the fire service will continue to be extremely busy in Essex.
“We are determined that, as an organisation, we make sure that we have the skills and equipment to meet any future challenges,” said Neil.
“Also, anything we can do to engage with the wider community and help improve the safety of people in Essex is a very positive thing.”
Andy Payne Worpole, Director of Policy and Programmes at ECF said, “We are pleased to work with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, and other public agencies, helping them to direct funding to where it is most needed and have the greatest impact. The Essex County Fire and Rescue Service charitable fund has reached a significant milestone in its grantmaking. We look forward to continuing to work with them and help more local charities and voluntary groups to benefit from support.”
Facts about ECFRS:
- Attended over 16,000 incidents in 2024
- Covers a service area of 1,417 square miles
- Employs 1,500 people across the county, including wholetime and on-call fire fighters, plus support staff.
- Teams operate from 50 Fire Stations around the county
- Runs 66 fire engines
For advice or to check and install fire alarms, book a free Home Safety Visit: https://www.essex-fire.gov.uk/book-home-safety-visit or phone: 0300 303 0088 (9.30am – 4pm) or email: home.safety@essex-fire.gov.uk
To find out how we can help you support your local community, call Perry Norton on 01245 355947 or email perry@essexcf.org.uk