Contents
Social
The social fabric of our communities will continue to change.
An ageing population will increase vulnerability to fire and other emergencies, while health inequalities will persist. At the same time, our communities will become more diverse, and expectations of public services will rise. People will demand transparency, fairness, and rapid, effective responses when emergencies occur. For HFRS, this means our workforce must reflect the communities we serve. Recruitment strategies will focus on attracting people from all backgrounds, supported by positive action plans and mentoring programmes. We will build pathways for young people through initiatives such as Fire Cadets and strengthen engagement with underrepresented groups. Our People Strategy will ensure that staff feel valued, supported, and equipped to deliver inclusive services. By embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do, we will create a workforce that is representative, trusted, and capable of meeting the complex needs of our communities. These commitments will be reflected in our CRMP, which will target prevention and protection activities towards those most at risk, using data and community feedback to guide our actions.
Risks:
An ageing population may lead to increased demand for medical co-response and bariatric rescues, placing additional strain on resources. Higher mental health-related incidents and social isolation may require specialised training and support for crews. Recruitment challenges in rural and deprived areas may reduce availability and impact service delivery.
Opportunities:
Recruitment strategies that reflect community diversity will strengthen trust and improve service effectiveness. Expansion of youth engagement programmes such as Fire Cadets and Rookie Reds may help build a future talent pipeline. Enhanced partnerships with health and social care providers may enable integrated approaches to vulnerability and prevention.
CRMP Link:
Our CRMP will continue to use data-driven approaches to target prevention and protection work where vulnerability is greatest. Social trends such as an ageing population, health inequalities, and community diversity will inform how we prioritise interventions. By aligning recruitment, engagement, and education programmes with CRMP insights, we will ensure that our workforce reflects the communities we serve and that our services remain inclusive, trusted, and effective.