The club was delighted to welcome Kerry James of The Firefighters Charity on 17 February.
The club is keen to support Winchester projects and charities and this is one of the charities supported by the current Mayor of Winchester Cllr Eleanor Bell. The Mayor was also in attendance and introduced Kerry and also indicated why she had chosen this charity during her year of office. She said, ‘On looking through the charities supported over the last twenty years, there was no mention of The Fire Fighters Charity.’
Given that so many recent environmental disasters require the services of Fire Fighters, not just in the UK, it is a very important resource. Kerry explained that they offer many tailored programmes to fire fighters, both serving, volunteers and retired. They offer Rehabilitation, Recuperation and Respite with nursing services given by those who fully understand the job, many who have been through similar circumstances. Their services cover not just the individual, but families and the wider working context.
Disasters can be fire, flood, aircraft crashes, rail incidents, road traffic collisions; all of which entail a view of human suffering and serious injury, and of course fatalities. It may seem that individuals cope with this on a day to day basis, but stories of depression, suicide, self harm and mental health can appear without warning. The Fire Fighters Charity can provide what is needed to help, be it physical or mental well-being.
Kerry is based in Eastleigh and covers the whole of Hampshire. The charity has treatment centres in Devon and Cumbria. It began in the midst of World War II in 1943 when Britain was subject to the Blitz and has evolved amazingly in that time.
The charity has no Government funding and needs £9m per annum.
With a view to further support the charity, we are holding a fundraising Quiz on Friday 27 November at Itchen Abbas village hall at 7.30pm with supper and ticket price of £12pp. To attend or send a team of 6 please contact winchestersoroptimists@gmail.com
You will be very welcome!