Firefighters will be taking over the weekly parkrun events at Watermead Country Park this weekend, and Abbey Park the weekend after, in a bid to boost recruitment for the local Fire Service.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is opening recruitment for Wholetime Firefighters on Wednesday 15 October, and it hopes to increase applications by meeting with members of the public at the free 5K running events on the mornings of Saturday 11 and Saturday 18 October.

Successful applicants must have good levels of physical fitness to be considered for the role, so the Service reached out to the organisers of both parkruns, where local people of all ages, genders and backgrounds come on a weekly basis to help keep fit and active.

Fire Service employees will help organise and take part in both events, which each start at 9am. Along with regular parkrun volunteers they will marshall the course, time the run, provide first aid and carry other other essential duties, while also giving members of the public the opportunity to learn about what a career in the Fire Service is like.

Callum Faint, Chief Fire Officer for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The ideal candidates to become Firefighters should be physically fit, but also active in their community - so where better to launch our new recruitment drive than at local parkruns, where people come together to keep fit and connect with their neighbours?

"We're looking for people of all ages, genders and backgrounds to join us. A job as a Wholetime Firefighter can be demanding, but it can also very be rewarding, with potential for promotion and specialisation in various areas throughout your career."

Firefighters are at the forefront of responding to emergency incidents, and engaging in proactive prevention efforts to minimise the likelihood of incidents happening in the first place. As well as good physical fitness, effective communication and the ability to impart best practices to households and businesses are also vital skills in this role.

Joining Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service offers not just a job but a career path with room for growth. You'll receive ongoing training, gain nationally-recognised qualifications, and have the opportunity to specialise in areas like fire protection or management.

You do not need any formal qualifications or previous experience to become a Firefighter. Basic entry requirements for Wholetime Firefighters include:

• You must live in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland at the time of application, unless you are a current active serving member of the UK Armed Forces; or employed by another UK local fire service authority.

• You must be at least 18 years old by 01 May 2026

• You must have a valid UK, EU or EEA driving licence

• You must have the right to work in the UK

• You must be willing to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

For more information on Wholetime Firefighter careers, visit: Careers | Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service

For details on Watermead Country Park Parkrun, visit: www.parkrun.org.uk/watermeadcountrypark/

For Details on Abbey Parkrun, visit: www.parkrun.org.uk/abbeypark/