Fire services help tackle health and wellbeing issues among young people

The praise comes as the LGA highlights the work being carried out by some of the country’s fire services in supporting vulnerable people following the transfer of public health duties from the NHS to local government.

Since the transfer, fire and rescue services have worked with councils to tackle a host of issues affecting children and young people including childhood obesity, youth unemployment, social isolation and cot deaths.

Among the fire services highlighted in the Beyond Fighting Fires – The role of the fire and rescue service in improving the public’s health report are Norfolk and Suffolk for helping to tackle child obesity through an eight-week activity and nutrition course for over weight young people, and the West Midlands for working with young people to get them back into employment.

Bolton Council and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are also highlighted for looking out for babies and toddlers through the “Safe Start” campaign, which sees cots and Moses baskets distributed to vulnerable families in a bid to reduce sudden infant death.

Councillor Izzi Seccombe, chair of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: “Firefighters are one of the most trusted professions in the eyes of the public, and this makes them uniquely placed to provide critical advice and support to the most vulnerable members of society.

“The work they are doing to team up with other local support means that life saving measures can be put in place at very short notice.”

The LGA represents all 49 fire and rescue service authorities in England and Wales and more than 370 local councils.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton, chair of the LGA’s fire services management committee, added: “Fire and rescue services have proven just how effective they can be.

“They are now exploring how they can use their expertise in further prevention work to improve the public’s health by providing critical interventions, promoting health messages and referring to appropriate services.”

Earlier in the year CYP Now highlighted a programme run by Hertfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service that aims to challenge the negative behaviour of young offenders and those with discipline issues.