Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s annual celebration marked its ninth year in style with firefighters, support staff and volunteers being recognised for their contributions to the community and the service at the annual MORE Awards.
The winners and runners up were presented with their awards during a ceremony at the County Showground in Stafford on June 30th. The MORE Awards aim to highlight the excellent work carried out by operational and support staff as well as voluntary members of the team and partnership agencies.
The Stafford division of The Rapid Relief Team won the Fire Service Champion – Partnership Achievement category sponsored by Clan Tool and Plant Ltd. The Rapid Relief Team is a not-for-profit charitable organisation which provides voluntary support to the emergency services at operational incidents. They provide refreshments and practical support where incidents are for a prolonged period.
They have been described as offering food and drinks with a smile and a genuine enthusiasm that helps to lift the spirits of tired crews, enabling them to continue their operational duties. Its volunteers are principally members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.
Team Leader Jonathan Pallister said: “We feel very privileged and humbled to win this award. It’s hard work but all of the volunteers find it thoroughly rewarding and to be recognised is fantastic. We enjoy working alongside the fire service, although this is just one of many areas we work in.”
The Human Resources Team, based at the Service Headquarters in Stone, scooped the Leadership and Cultural Message Framework award. The team were awarded for consistently demonstrating the Service’s cultural values of honesty, openness, trust and respect. They were described as giving constructive advice in, sometimes, challenging circumstances, of demonstrating empathy throughout and of going the extra mile to make a difference.
Business Partner Julie Edwards said: “We really didn’t expect to win so we are very shocked – this is a very proud moment for us as a team. It was nice to have received multiple nominations from across the Service and to receive this recognition.”
Former Head of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Mark Adams, who has spent the past 32 years based at the Service Headquarters in Stone, won the Fire Service Champion Nominated by Staff award. Recently retired, Mark has inspired, motivated, mentored and empowered his teams to develop and achieve their maximum potential. He has overseen the progression and innovation of ICT services resulting in significant progress for the Service and has implemented various critical communication and mobilisation technologies.
Mark, who lives in Stafford commented: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled, honoured and privileged to have received the Fire Service Champions Award. To have been put forward for the award by my own team gives me great pride to have worked with so many caring and considerate people. The award is not about me, it is about the team and how we ensure the wellbeing of each other, as well as the commitment to achieving excellence in all that we do.”
Chief Fire Officer Becci Bryant said: “I am delighted to say we had an exceptional selection of nominees for my first year as chief. We have an incredibly dedicated and hard-working team which is made up of operational firefighters, support staff and volunteers, and we are proud of the excellent work that they carry out on a daily basis.
“It was a difficult task to shortlist the winners as the standard was again very high and each member of the team plays a vital role in delivering the first-class service that the communities of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent expect and deserve. However, the people who have been recognised really have gone the extra mile and I am delighted to award them, on behalf of Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service.”
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