Meeting to be held on 15 December 2025.
Contact for further information – Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Sam Pink.
Tel: 01772 866802
Executive SummaryThis paper provides a report on the work of the Member Champions for the period up to 14 December 2025.
Recommendation(s)The Authority is requested to note and endorse the report and acknowledge the work of the respective Champions.
|
The concept of Member Champions was introduced in December 2007 with a review of the roles in 2017.
The Authority appoints its Member Champions at its Annual Meeting in June, and the current Member Champions are:
· Community Safety – County Councillor Andy Blake
· Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - Councillor Salim Sidat
· Health and Wellbeing – County Councillor Sohail Asghar
· Road Safety - County Councillor Jordan Fox
Reports relating to the activity of the Member Champions are provided on a regular basis to the Authority. During this period, all have undertaken their respective role in accordance with the defined terms of reference. Their activity to date is as follows:
Community Safety - County Councillor Andy Blake
The 2025 BrightSparx campaign ran from 1 October to 9 November and continues to play a key role in helping the Service and our partner agencies ensure the safety and wellbeing of people in Lancashire during the Bonfire Night period. This year, nearly 22,000 secondary school-aged children received vital bonfire and firework safety information, with a particular focus on schools in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour.
As part of the campaign, an exciting poster competition was held in South Ribble, engaging pupils from eight schools with 300 entries. The competition was divided into categories by school years (Reception, Years 1-2, Years 3-4 and Years 5-6). The competition was supported by Chorley Council, who provided fantastic prizes for the winners, including a tablet, tickets to Worden Park bonfire for the group winners and family swim passes for the runners-up. The award presentation took place at Leyland Fire Station on Monday 10 November.
In addition to school initiatives, the Northern Community Fire Safety (CFS) Team and Prevention Support Team delivered the Bright Sparx campaign at Morecambe Road SEN School. Using visual props, they engaged students in discussions about firework safety, demonstrated the correct way to hold sparklers and provided crucial advice on what to do if clothes catch fire. The session also raised awareness about fire safety for wheelchair users. The school praised the team for their inclusive and interactive approach, highlighting how well they engaged the students and helped them understand the safety messages.
The Northern CFS team has been actively working in the Ridge Estate in Lancaster to address high levels of anti-social behaviour and secondary fires. As part of a multi-agency approach, the team engaged with young people on the estate and hosted an event at the Ridge Community Centre. During the event, attendees took part in a range of activities, such as fire safety education, firework safety, hose running and a colouring competition. Staff feedback was highly positive, and the team has been invited to return for additional sessions with the young people at the after-school club on Mondays.
In recognition of National Older Persons Day, the Southern CFS Team attended an event at Age UK Lancashire in Ormskirk. The event focused on winter resilience, offering advice on staying safe, warm and well during the winter months. The team also highlighted safe driving as part of the ‘Are your eyes fit to drive?’ campaign. The following day, the team visited Birkacre Garden Centre in Chorley to raise awareness among older customers about the importance of regular eye testing.
In the Pennine area, CFS staff attended a community event held at Hussainia Mosque in Burnley, organised by the Intensive Home Support Service (IHSS). The event aimed to raise awareness of IHSS services and engage with the local Asian community. Held in the mosque car park, it provided an excellent opportunity for fostering community cohesion. The CFS team used the event to promote important fire safety messages, with a particular focus on cooking safety and the critical importance of having a working smoke alarm.
The main focus of the initiative was to reduce general ASB and directly respond to local police reports of youth involvement in fire-setting behaviours. A key component of the initiative was the fire-setter intervention scheme, which educates young people about the dangers and consequences of fire-setting. The project team also worked to identify the underlying causes of these behaviours and raise awareness around fire safety.
The positive impact of the programme has strengthened CYAG’s ability to continue providing safe spaces and behaviour-changing activities for young people, helping to steer them towards more positive choices in the future.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion - Councillor Salim Sidat
LFRS continued to strengthen its commitment to community safety, inclusion, and workforce development through a series of strategic initiatives and partnerships.
In the Eastern area, a new collaboration with Blackburn Rovers Football Club (BRFC) has been established to share fire and road safety messages with matchday audiences via digital screens and scoreboards. This partnership will also deliver community initiatives through BRFC’s Community Trust and provide safety sessions for academy players. Nationally, LFRS partnered with EG On The Move and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) to deliver bonfire safety messages on forecourt digital screens free of charge, building on previous campaigns promoting water safety and wildfire prevention.
The Bright Sparx campaign featured targeted engagement in high-risk areas, including educational activities at The Ridge Estate Half Term Club and a Fire Safety Surgery at a Burnley mosque during Friday prayers, supported by the Combined Fire Authority (CFA) Vice Chair. These events promoted fireworks safety, generated Home Fire Safety Check (HFSC) referrals, and strengthened community relationships. Additional community engagement included a joint awareness event with Benefit Mankind, which recognised volunteer contributions and reinforced grassroots partnerships.
LFRS has continued to prioritise cultural inclusion through initiatives such as Visit My Mosque 2025, Diwali celebrations at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, and a new fire safety project for churches across Lancashire. These activities promoted cultural understanding and introduced practical safety measures, including battery-operated tea lights and festive electrical safety guidance. Work has also begun with ‘New Neighbours Together’ to support asylum seekers and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learners, improving fire safety awareness for those living in houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) and alternative housing arrangements.
Pendle Community Radio remains a key platform for engagement, with recent broadcasts launching the Cooking Safety Campaign and introducing Language Name Badges to strengthen connections with diverse communities. Further targeted prevention work included a Fire Safety Surgery in Brierfield, which generated 66 HFSC referrals, and an electrical safety campaign during Eid Milad un Nabi, resulting in zero electrical fires during the period.
Internally, LFRS continues to advance inclusion and transparency. The Service achieved the Bronze Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark during Dyslexia Awareness Week and is exploring White Ribbon accreditation to demonstrate its commitment to preventing violence against women and girls. A dedicated SharePoint site has been launched to host all Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs), ensuring accessibility and streamlined approval processes. The most recent Supervisory Manager Talent Gateway concluded in July, with outcomes shared openly and candidate feedback actively sought for the first time.
Recruitment efforts have focused on diversity, with On-Call Support Officers (OCSOs) delivering four practical sessions at local colleges, engaging around 160 students. Notably, 70 per cent of participants were from BME backgrounds and 7 per cent were neurodivergent, supporting efforts to broaden representation within the Service.
Health and wellbeing remain a priority, with a menopause nutritionist session planned for World Menopause Month and LFRS contributing to national FireFit research on female firefighters and menopause.
Through these initiatives, LFRS demonstrates its ongoing commitment to safety, inclusion, and continuous improvement, ensuring that communities across Lancashire remain safe and supported.
Health, Wellbeing & Climate Change - County Councillor Sohail Asghar
Climate Change and Environment
As reported within the June 2025 update, AtkinsRéalis successfully completed comprehensive decarbonisation surveys across the LFRS estate. These surveys assessed energy consumption, carbon emissions, and opportunities for efficiency improvements at each site.
During the recent quarter, the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Department engaged with specialist consultants to review and validate the findings, ensuring accuracy and alignment with industry best practice. The finalised report provided detailed data and performance benchmarks for our buildings and operations, highlighting areas of high energy use and potential interventions, such as renewable energy integration, insulation upgrades, and behavioural change initiatives.
This robust analysis forms the foundation for our next phase of the carbon reduction strategy, which will include prioritisation of actions based on impact and cost-effectiveness, the setting of measurable targets for 2026 and beyond, and the exploration of funding opportunities to accelerate implementation. These steps will be critical to meeting our long-term sustainability commitments and supporting the organisation’s transition toward net zero.
Health and Wellbeing
The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) now includes a dedicated mobile app designed to provide confidential support, guidance, and counselling to individuals whenever needed. We have continued to actively promote this enhanced resource across the Service, to ensure staff were aware of its benefits and encouraged to register and engage with its features. The app has been fully integrated into the digital infrastructure, available on all LFRS-issued phones and tablets, and can be easily downloaded via the Company Portal.
Beyond its role as a reactive support tool during times of stress or difficulty, the app also offers a wide range of proactive wellbeing resources aimed at strengthening personal resilience and overall mental health. These include interactive mood tracking, guided meditation sessions, short yoga routines, healthy lifestyle tips, and access to professional advice. By embedding these tools into everyday routines, we aim to foster a culture of wellbeing where individuals feel empowered to manage challenges effectively and maintain a positive work-life balance.
In terms of the Fitness Function, 63% of Grey Book (operational) staff have completed their annual fitness assessment, indicating that the Service is on track to ensure all Grey Book staff complete an annual fitness assessment by the end of this training calendar (2025/26).
Road Safety – County Councillor Jordan Fox
In September LFRS organised two large multi-agency college events to support the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and National Police Chiefs Council’s (NPCC) joint ‘Operation Spotlight’, aimed at young and inexperienced drivers. This year’s theme highlighted the importance of not rushing the learning process, wearing seatbelts and avoiding carrying too many passengers shortly after passing the driving test (These three factors feature prominently in our statistics for young people who are killed and seriously injured).
The first event took place at Blackburn College, where 500 students were excused from their regular classes to participate. Throughout the day, they attended 30-minute assemblies focused on Lancashire’s Fatal 5: Inappropriate Speed, Driving Under the Influence, Mobile Phones, Lack of Seatbelt Use and Careless/ Wreckless Driving. The session concluded with a poignant video about a tragic incident in Great Harwood, where 14-year-old Bonney Barrow tragically lost her life in a collision involving her cousin, the driver. At the time of the crash, her cousin was committing three driving offences. Following the assembly, students were divided into smaller groups and rotated through a ‘Marketplace’ of interactive, bite-sized activities. LFRS had two sections: a Crashed Car display and an operational demonstration by Blackburn fire crews, who showed their role in road traffic collisions and explained the equipment they use. Lancashire Constabulary, also contributed by running a workshop on the dangers and legalities surrounding ‘E-bikes and E-scooters’. Blackburn with Darwen Council provided beer-goggle activities to simulate the effects of alcohol, while drug and alcohol misuse charities were available to offer support and advice.
The second event was held at Lancaster and Morecambe College, which hosted an even larger turnout of 1200 students, each attending for one hour. Students rotated through an expanded Marketplace where again LFRS had two sections, the same as Blackburn College. This event also featured Lancashire Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit and Lancashire County Council. Students had the opportunity to engage in Virtual Reality experiences and used beer-goggles to understand the effects of alcohol and learned about the legal status of E-bikes and E-scooters, and the risks of illegal use. This event supported Lancashire Constabulary’s Operation Centurion, a comprehensive, county-wide campaign to combat anti-social driving, in response to the growing number of illegal vehicles involved in collisions. Alarmingly, last year alone, illegal vehicles were linked to six fatalities and 200 injuries on Lancashire’s roads. Due to the large attendance, the 30-minute assemblies will be repeated to students at Lancaster and Morecambe College in December.
Following the events, students were asked to complete an anonymous evaluation form. A remarkable 100% of respondents reported that they found the day beneficial, and 88% said what they learned would influence them to drive more safely in the future.
Whilst no formal obligation is placed on the Authority to have Champions, effective utilisation of such roles offers a number of benefits.
The Member Champion role provides leadership on environmental issues and assists in engaging Authority members in strategic objectives relating to protecting the environment.
The Member Champion role provides leadership on equality and diversity issues and assists in engaging Authority members in strategic objectives relating to equality and diversity.
Data Protection (GDPR)
Will the proposal(s) involve the processing of personal data? N
If the answer is yes, please contact a member of the Democratic Services Team to assist with the appropriate exemption clause for confidential consideration under part 2 of the agenda.
Some Member and Officer time commitments.
Activities are within budget.
None identified.
Paper:
Date:
Contact: ACFO Sam Pink
Reason for inclusion in Part 2 if appropriate: N/A