Social Responsibility

As an organisation and a large employer, we know that the decisions we make have an impact on our people, our communities and the environment. 

We’re committed to working in an ethical, inclusive and sustainable way. We also work with external organisations to support positive change across our Service and the communities we serve. 

Our commitments include the Armed Forces Covenant, White Ribbon Accreditation, Serious Violence Duty and carbon reduction. 

We’re committed to supporting the Armed Forces community and have signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant. 

The Covenant is a promise that organisations will recognise the value of serving personnel, veterans and their families, and work to ensure they are treated fairly. 

For us, this means creating a workplace where members of the Armed Forces community feel valued, supported and included. We recognise the skills, experience and contribution that serving personnel and veterans bring to our Service and our communities. 

We also support our Armed Forces community through our workplace Armed Forces Network. The network provides an opportunity for colleagues to connect with others who have an Armed Forces connection, share experiences and offer support. 

Our staff networks are an important part of creating an inclusive workplace where people can connect, have their voices heard and help shape our culture. 

Find out more about our staff network groups. 

We’re proud to be a White Ribbon accredited organisation. 

White Ribbon is a global campaign focused on preventing violence against women and girls by changing the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to it. 

Being part of White Ribbon reflects our aim to create a workplace where everyone feels safe, respected and included. As an emergency service and employer, we all have a part to play in promoting positive behaviours and treating one another with dignity and respect. 

This sits alongside our wider work to create an inclusive and supportive working environment, where the way we treat each other reflects the values and standards of our Service.  

Find out more about White Ribbon 

The Serious Violence Duty is a statutory duty that came into effect on 31 January 2023. 

It brings organisations together to prevent and reduce serious violence and help make local communities safer. 

We work with partners including the police, health services, education providers and local authorities to understand local risks and support ways to prevent serious violence. 

Much of this work is already part of what we do every day: 

• Children and Young People – working with young people through programmes including DRILL, IMPACT and Fire Cadets, as well as targeted education in schools. 
• Firewise – working with children and adults who are known to have fire-setting behaviours to help reduce the risk of fire and harm. 
• Safeguarding – supporting our communities when concerns are identified and working with partners to make sure they receive the right support. 

Find out more about the Serious Violence Duty. 

One of the biggest challenges we face is our response to the changing climate. This brings operational challenges as the incidents we respond to change, but it also brings organisational need to change how we do things to minimise our environmental impact and the contribution we are making to the changing climate. 

The UK made the commitment that all public sector organisations must have net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Our Carbon Reduction Pathway Strategy outlines what we are doing to reduce our environmental impact now and in the future, and sets how we will achieve net zero by 2050.