Lancashire Combined Fire Authority

Meeting to be held on Monday 15 June 2026

Member Champion Activity Report

Contact for further information – Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Sam Pink.

Tel: 01772 866802

Executive Summary

This paper provides a report on the work of the Member Champions for the period up to 14 June 2026.

Members are invited to provide any feedback they may have for the period up to 14 June 2026.

Recommendation(s)

The Authority is requested to note and endorse the report of the respective Member Champions and share any feedback received in relation to associated Service activities.

Information

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 & Climate Change – 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 Community Fire Safety Team has been strengthening partnership working with local housing officers and older people’s care services, including Regenerage (formerly Age Concern Central Lancashire). This work focuses on supporting vulnerable residents by raising fire safety awareness and increasing referrals for Home Fire Safety Checks.

We have also engaged with the Sikh community during Vaisakhi to promote fire safety during festivities, particularly around cooking. This outreach has helped build trust with diverse communities and identify opportunities for Home Fire Safety Checks and other safety interventions.

Water and boat safety remains a key focus for us across the county, particularly in locations with higher risk of water-related incidents. Activities have included maintenance checks and drills at local Water Safety Information Boards, as well as visits to marinas, where we engaged with boat owners, delivered Boat Fire Safety advice, and provided smoke detectors. This work is ongoing, and additional visits are planned at further high-risk locations.

Youth engagement remains a key priority. Our Fire Cadets recently participated in an enrichment day with Blackpool Airport Fire and Rescue Service, including station tours, vehicle demonstrations, hands-on fire extinguishing exercises, and an impressive aircraft display.

In partnership with local police, we have supported the Mini Cop programme, a 12-week course for Year 5 and 6 pupils, targeting children who have shown interest in criminal activity. Our interactive sessions highlighted the dangers of deliberate fires and fireworks, the consequences of anti-social behaviour, and practical safety skills such as fire prevention, water safety, and emergency response awareness.

These activities continue to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to keeping Lancashire communities safe, engaging vulnerable and diverse populations, and delivering proactive education and support.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – Councillor Salim Sidat

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) continues to strengthen community engagement and workforce development through targeted initiatives and partnership working.

In Central Area, Community Fire Safety (CFS) teams engaged with the Sikh community in Preston during Vaisakhi celebrations, delivering key fire safety advice on cooking, electrical and general risks. The activity was well received by Gurdwara management and community members, helping to strengthen relationships and build ongoing trust with Lancashire’s largest Sikh community.

A new CareSafe Fire Safety Scheme has been launched to improve safety for individuals at greater risk, supporting closer partnership working with care providers and increasing high-risk Home Fire Safety Check referrals. Launched on 18 March 2026 with 18 providers and partners in attendance, the scheme includes training, digital resources and input on hoarding and fatal dwelling fires. Positive feedback has been received, with 20 providers now signed up and plans in place to evaluate the scheme after 12 months before wider rollout.

Internally, a new staff forum has been introduced, enabling employees to engage directly with the Chief Fire Officer and Executive Board. The forum provides updates on Service priorities while giving staff a platform to raise questions, share ideas and contribute to future direction.

Employee Voice Group (EVG) activity continues to support inclusion. The Race and Religion EVG will support the Windrush Festival at Avenham Park on 21 June 2026, while LFRS will also be represented at the Women in the Fire Service National Training and Development event in June, with delegates attending and supporting delivering as instructors.

These activities demonstrate LFRS’s continued focus on community engagement, supporting those most at risk and developing an inclusive, forward-looking workforce.

Health and Wellbeing and Climate Change – County Councillor Sohail Asghar

Climate Change and Environment

World Environment Day is the United Nations’ leading global campaign to raise awareness and drive action on environmental issues, encouraging individuals, organisations and communities to protect the planet and adopt sustainable practices. For LFRS, this is particularly relevant as our responsibilities extend beyond emergency response - our operations and activities have an environmental impact, and we must actively work to minimise this while continuing to protect our communities.

Key priorities for LFRS include reducing the environmental impact of operational activity, safely managing fire contaminants, improving energy efficiency across sites, supporting the transition to low-emission vehicles, and protecting natural environments during incidents and training. Staff can contribute by adopting simple, practical measures such as reducing energy and water use, improving recycling, following decontamination procedures, and sharing good practice. Collectively, these actions support a safer, cleaner and more sustainable future for the organisation.

Health and Wellbeing

The pilot of the Firelight Outdoors Programme commenced in April 2026 and is receiving positive feedback from all attendees. There is a second Experience Day scheduled for 17 June, with Fire Service representatives attending. Arrangements for the Family Activity Day are going well. The inaugural Blue Light Festival is scheduled for 20 June, however, this may be dependent on ticket sales to maximise fundraising, as all proceeds made at both events will go directly to funding further Firelight programmes. This is to enable a mental health and wellbeing hub to be available to pan-Lancashire emergency services personnel.

The latest cohort of Wellbeing Support Dogs have completed their Kennel Club Bronze Award training and have all passed. There will be a passing-out parade on 12 June 2026 at the Leadership and Development Centre, from 10am until 12pm and we look forward to seeing those of you who are joining us in celebrating how well the dogs and their owners have done with all elements of their training.

Road Safety – County Councillor Jordan Fox

April saw the first of our six Alive to Drive Road Safety Events. The event took place in Blackburn Town Centre in front of the Town Hall. LFRS was joined by staff from Blackburn with Darwen Road Safety Team, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), Institute of Advanced Motorists, Highways Agency and Lancashire Police. The pinnacle of the event is the road traffic collision (RTC) demonstration. This is a multi-agency demonstration between LFRS, NWAS and Lancashire Constabulary. It allows members of the public to see what happens inside a road closure during an incident. Throughout the demonstration a live commentary is given via a PA system, explaining each organisations’ role at these types of incidents. It also provides the opportunity to interweave key safety messages around Lancashire’s Fatal 5 and the factors which contribute most to serious and fatal RTC: inappropriate speed, driving under the influence, mobile phone use, lack of seatbelt compliance and careless or reckless driving.

An adapted version of Wasted Lives was delivered to 200 female students at Jamea Al Kauthar private boarding school in Lancaster. The session covered the usual Fatal 5 messaging but was adapted to focus more on passenger safety including the importance of wearing a seatbelt, especially in the rear of the vehicle where we find lack of seatbelt compliance is higher. Statistics suggest that road death could reduce by up to 50% if everyone wore their seatbelt. In the session the students also learnt what they can do if a driver is speeding and the importance of speaking up if they are frightened by someone’s driving style. The session was very well received by the students who asked many questions about the ‘Crashed Car.’ The passengers of the vehicle were not wearing their seatbelts and both sustained life changing injuries as a result of the collision.

A Wasted Lives Workshop was delivered at BAE to 80 apprentices at the Samlesbury site. The apprentices were from all different departments across the workforce but were largely under the age of 25, so very much a target group for engagement. As well as a workshop session, the students were split into smaller groups and were shown the ‘Crashed Car.’ This proved to be very impactful. Apprentice groups are a priority for this delivery given they often have lots of disposable income which enables them to buy newer, faster vehicles than other young people of a similar age.

Biker Down has had a busy couple of months with 3 very full courses (62 attendees) being delivered and filming taking place for TikTok, Facebook and Instagram with a well-known Social Media Influencer from the biking community. The team also attended a Vintage Motorcycle Show alongside colleagues from LCC Road safety Team to promote the course and talk to attendees about Bike Safety. LCC have a ‘Batak’ board which tests reactions and proved to be a good crowd puller and conversation starter.

Member Feedback and Champion Contributions

Members are encouraged and welcomed to share verbal feedback on the content of this report and to contribute with any updates on event they've attended that they would wish to share.  

Member Champions are kindly encouraged to provide updates within their respective areas, outlining progress, emerging issues, and opportunities for further engagement. This approach is intended to support informed discussion, enhance member involvement, and help ensure that Champion roles continue to add value to service delivery and governance.

Business risk

Whilst no formal obligation is placed on the Authority to have Champions, effective utilisation of such roles offers a number of benefits.

Sustainability or Environmental Impact

The Member Champion role provides leadership on environmental issues and assists in engaging Authority members in strategic objectives relating to protecting the environment.

Equality and Diversity Implications

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.

HR implications

Some Member and Officer time commitments.

Financial implications

Activities are within budget.

Legal implications

None identified.

Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985

List of background papers

Paper:

Date:

Contact: ACFO Sam Pink

Reason for inclusion in Part 2 if appropriate:  N/A