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Equality and diversity awards |
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The first national Equality and Diversity Award Scheme for the Fire and Rescue Service was launched last month. The scheme, jointly sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Association and the Chief Fire Officers’ Association, will recognise achievement in three categories : Leadership, Partnership Working, and Service Delivery. Each category will have awards for both individual and team or group achievement.
The scheme focuses on innovation and good practice, recognising the commitment that fire and rescue services are making to promoting equality and diversity in our communities. The aims of thescheme are to encourage the development and sharing of good practice; support the promotion of equality and diversity across the Service; raise awareness about the issues and celebrate achievement. Communities and Local Government has reported healthy interest from the Service following the announcement of the scheme. The closing date for applications was 20 April and a panel of judges, made up of representatives of the wider equality and diversity community from both public and private sectors, will convene shortly to decide on the winning entries. The awards will be presented at the Fire conference on May 24.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has also announced that it is working with Service partners to develop a new equality and diversity strategy for the Fire and Rescue Service in England. The strategy will provide a clear vision of what is expected from the Fire and Rescue Service over the ten year period up to 2018 and will address a wide range of issues including culture, employment practices and targets, service delivery and community engagement. Communities and Local Government has been running a series of stakeholder workshops since January to help inform the development of the new strategy, which will go out to consultation in the Summer.
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