A week long county wide safety drive is set to be undertaken by hundreds of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service firefighters and staff.
Across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, potentially life-saving safety talks and events are to be held a for Community Wellbeing Week between Monday, October 1, and Sunday, October 7.
Firefighters and staff will be teaming up with partner agencies to visit some of the most vulnerable members of the community in their homes, as well as joining community groups using the facilities at fire stations, inviting the public to have a Brew with a Crew. The week of community focused activity aims to help residents keep healthy and well, while also promoting fire safety in their homes.
Community Safety Lead Steph Cooley said: “This is the third year we are running this week long community safety drive and we hope to see many members of our communities benefit from the positive activities being held around the county. This year the week of activity coincides with International Day of Older Persons on Monday, October 1 and we are focusing on tackling social isolation.
“We came up with the idea of holding Brew with a Crew events to create the chance for people to come and chat to us in a friendly informal environment. Social isolation and loneliness affects thousands of people and when we carry out Safe and Well visits these are often factors that we find increase vulnerability to fire and other health risks in the home.
“This year we have planned visits to sheltered housing complexes around the county, to spend time chatting to people who may not often have visitors. At the start of the week we will be visiting Councillor Lilian Dodd, who is the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, at her home in Dresden to complete a Safe and Well as she is supporting our Community Wellbeing Week.
“All of our activity will emphasise the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and it’s an opportunity for us to talk to people about our Safe and Well visits, which look at a range of issues which can affect your quality of life and increase your risk of being involved in a fire.
“People who have health risks such as poor mobility, smoking, alcohol and substance misuse, and health issues are at a much greater risk of being the victim of a fire which is why it is absolutely vital that we, and partners, help people address these root causes to prevent the situation occurring in the first place. Small changes to health and lifestyle really can have life-saving outcomes.”
Details of all open community wellbeing events being held throughout the week are listed below. For more information about attending a session please contact the local fire station for the area. More information will be posted on the Service’s social media channels throughout the week.
Open event/s being held in the east:
- Monday, October 1, 2-4pm – Uttoxeter Cares, 2 Hermitage Gardens, Uttoxeter, ST14 7DT
Firefighters in conjunction with Uttoxeter Cares and AED Donate providing Heart Start Awareness Day covering basic life support and defibrillator awareness. Please contact Michelle Vodden at Uttoxeter Cares to confirm attendance, tel 01889 220420 or michelle.vodden@stgileshospice.com
Open event/s being held in the south/west:
- Monday, October 1, 12-2pm, – Brew with a Crew at Kinver fire station, Fairfield drive, Kinver, South Staffordshire, DY7 6EW.
Drop in for an informal chat with local firefighters, officers from Staffordshire Police and a representative from Alzheimer’s UK.
- Monday, October 1, to Friday, October 5, 11am -12pm– Brew with a Crew at Cannock Community Fire Station, Old Hednesford Road, Cannock, WS11 6LD
We will be opening the station doors and welcoming anyone who is passing to drop in for a hot drink and cake in a relaxed environment. Local firefighters and station staff will be on hand to have an informal chat.
Everyone Health Groups (run by Staffordshire County Council)
- Thursday, October 4, between 3.30 and 4.30pm (and each week thereafter), Rugeley Community Centre
- Monday, October 1, between 2.30-3.30pm (and each week thereafter), at Northfield Community Centre and
- Thursday, October 4, between 3 and 4pm (and each week thereafter), at the Signpost Community Centre.
These relaxed and friendly groups run weekly, and every week provide the chance to join in with a varied range of creative crafts activities such as making bird feeders, decorations and cards. There are also play board games, cards and skittles on offer.
In the first week there’s the chance to make an indoor terrarium garden which be taken home. The sessions, materials and beverages are all completely FREE for Staffordshire residents.
It doesn’t matter if residents can’t make the first session – the groups will meet weekly at the same place and time with all welcome to join at any point.
Open event/s being held in the north:
- Monday, October 1, 10am -12pm and 1.30-3.30pm, – Tea and Cake Morning at Newcastle Community Fire Station, Knutton Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 2SL.
Come along and reminisce about times gone by. There are two sessions which include a station tour, a film showing the history of Newcastle-under-Lyme and how it used to be, chat with the firefighters, old fashioned board games, refreshments, music to your liking – please feel free to bring in your favourite vinyl records.
There is FREE transport for those living in Newcastle who are unable to get to the fire station.
Please contact Mandy Chapman on 01785 898897 to book your place.
- Monday, October 1, to Friday, October 5, firefighters and staff attending Age UK over several 50s exercise classes and chats around Stoke-on-Trent.
Details of these classes (held regularly) are available here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/northstaffs/our-services/exercise/ageing-well/
