Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's fire safety community volunteer scheme is helping to celebrate UK Inspire Day [16 May], which recognises and rewards exceptional, non-commercial projects that have been inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Motivated by the London 2012 drive to encourage volunteering, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's fire safety community volunteer scheme has been welcoming new recruits and, as a result, was awarded the coveted London 2012 Inspire mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme, in February 2012.

Launched in January 2008, the scheme now has more than 100 volunteers who give eight hours of their time every month to help raise awareness of fire safety across the county through a range of activities including attending community events and supporting local fire safety campaigns

Olympics chief Seb Coe said: "Hertfordshire FRS fire safety community volunteer scheme is one of over two thousand seven hundred projects using the Inspire mark across the United Kingdom. I'd like to thank them for all their support and hard work using the power of the Games to inspire change."

HFRS scheme is not the only outstanding Hertfordshire project that will be celebrating with 36 projects across the county granted the Inspire Mark including 'Win Business Gold', 'The Good School Food Gold Medal Challenge' and 'Muscle Dreams'.

Richard Thake, Hertfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: "It was a great honour when Hertfordshire's fire safety volunteer scheme was given the official Inspire mark earlier this year. The endorsement shows what a good volunteering project we run and the people who get involved deserve to be recognised and celebrated."

For more information on the London 2012 Inspire Programme and the other projects visit www.london2012.com/joinin 

Posted 16/05/2012 by richard.hook@pavpub.com