LEICESTERSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE LAUNCH TRANSGENDER POLICY
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service continuously promote and embed equality and diversity across the Service and the communities they serve. On Thursday 22 June, the Service launched their first ever Transgender Policy. This policy ensures the Service has guidelines in place, providing transgender equality for all employees.
The event was well attended with representatives from operational and support staff, as well as other partner organisations from across the region. Charlie Craggs, founder of the award-winning campaign, Nail Transphobia, was a guest speaker and took time to explain her personal experiences and why there is a need for policies such as this. She went on to say that policies such as these not only make transgender people feel welcome, they outline procedures for managers to follow.
Charlie Craggs said: “It was an honour to speak at the launch of Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service’s Transgender Policy. It’s such an important document that signifies how far the Service has come and how far we have come as a society. This was reiterated by how many people came up to speak with me after my talk and messaged me to say that I helped them understand the whole trans thing a bit better and that they’d left with a different perspective. The fact that at least one person went away from the day as an ally means that the day was a total success for me.”
“I’ve always had so much respect for the fire and rescue services and the honourable work you brave men and women do for society, but I’ve got even more respect for you all now seeing how open you are to learning and changing.”
Rick Taylor, Assistant Chief Fire and Rescue Office and Lead on Equalities at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are proud to have a supportive, inclusive working environment at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service that makes everyone feel welcome.”
“Equality and diversity lies at the heart of all our work and we strive to improve on this every year. We hope that by launching our very own Transgender Policy, it enables us to improve the work we have been doing in partnership with Stonewall further.”
“We want a Service where everyone is able to be themselves in the workplace, which actually benefits the organisation.”
More information on Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service’s equality and diversity can be found by visiting www.leicestershire-fire.gov.uk.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Interviews can be arranged with prior arrangement via Corporate Communications. A selection of photos from the day are also available by request from Corporate Communications.
About the Service
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response, prevention and protection services from 20 stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its headquarters is based in Birstall, Leicester.
The Service’s prevention, education, enforcement and inspection programmes have resulted in significant reductions in the number of incidents. In the last ten years, fire related incidents have reduced by 46 percent.
During 2015/16, the Service attended 666 road traffic collisions, of which 174 were extrications freeing 208 people trapped inside their vehicles and completed 5086 home fire safety checks, fitting almost 4481 smoke alarms. Staff organised or supported almost 1431 events aimed at promoting fire and road safety and arson prevention, whilst also visiting 332 schools to deliver fire and road safety education to pupils.
Contact:
Corporate Communications
0116 229 2178
corporate.communications@lfrs.org
