Humberside Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) held an event today to support the international campaign for HeForShe.
Organiser Natalie Parkinson introduced the new Chief Fire Officer Chris Blacksell to open the event. Chief Inspector Miles Ockwell of Surrey and Sussex Police then gave a very personal and moving account as to why his force had become involved. HR Director Miriam Heppell and Chair of the Fire Authority Cllr John Briggs rounded off the event by committing the Service to making gender equality part of the fabric of the organisation.
'This will not be put in a drawer and forgotten about' affirmed Councillor Briggs.
HeForShe was created by UN Women, the United Nations entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The overall aim is to remove the social and cultural barriers that prevent women and girls from achieving their potential and therefore positively contributing to and shaping society.
As the first Fire and Rescue Service in the UK to sign the HeForShe pledge, HFRS are proud to take on the committment to increase numbers of both women applying for and being recruited to firefighter positions in the Fire Service and to improve the engagement experience, development and promotion opportunities of and for the women in our workforce.