Racially diverse counselling support

Conference recognises the importance of firefighter health and the ongoing maintenance of our emotional, psychological and social well-being.

Conference noted this by agreeing resolution ‘Support for Fire Brigades Union (FBU) Brigade and Regional Officials’ at Conference 2022. Pressures from the role of a firefighter and firefighter (Control), can and often does take its toll.

Conference further notes the pressures Members endure within the workplace which can affect them as much as what they witness on operational calls.

Since passing resolution ‘Support for Fire Brigades Union (FBU) Brigade and Regional Officials’ at Conference 2022 the recently published Independent Culture Review of London Fire Brigade led to many accounts of racism, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia and discriminatory practices towards neurodiverse Members. Any discrimination of this nature, if left untreated can lead to a lifetime of trauma. Victims of this abuse often require intervention to support mental wellbeing.

To ensure black and ethnic minority Members are fully supported Conference calls on the Executive Council to:

• • explore counselling and therapy services provided by black and ethnic minority health professionals
  • create a database that can be shared via FBU structures to feed into the work outstanding on resolution ‘Support for Fire Brigades Union (FBU) Brigade and Regional Officials’ from Conference 2022
  • write a letter to all chief fire officers and authority chairs, explaining the benefits and importance of providing counselling and therapy to black and ethnic minority Members.