A new partnership initiative has been launched in Southend to enhance Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s (ECFRS) home fire safety visits scheme. A partnership between ECFRS and Southend Association of Voluntary Services (SAVS) sees the local charity managing a team of volunteers on ECFRS' behalf.  The team of trained volunteers will add to the existing work carried out by ECFRS by fitting life saving smoke alarms in the homes of elderly and vulnerable people.

The volunteers are all drawn from the local community and for many it is the first time they have been involved in volunteering. So far, 13 volunteers have been given special training and over the last two weeks the first visits have taken place with smoke alarms installed in more than a dozen homes in the Southend area, where the scheme is being piloted for six months.

“I saw an advert in the local paper and thought that it was something I might like to do. I am used to dealing with all kinds of different people from my old job on the buses,” says volunteer Ray Smith, 69, a retired bus driver.

“It is a good idea. It promotes fire safety and gets me out and meeting people. I have made friends through the scheme just by meeting the other volunteers and it is very satisfying to go out and do something that helps others.”

David Coram, 65, is a retired airport firefighter, bringing years of fire service experience to his role as a volunteer. He said: “I retired in April and when I heard about this scheme, I knew it was ideal for me.

“I know from my experience how important smoke alarms are and I have the time to get out and help make sure people are safer in their homes.”

Paul Gill, 43, had already been working with SAVS on other schemes. “They approached me and asked if this was something I would like to do,” he said. “It was a new area for me and is something where I can get out and help vulnerable people from my community.”

Richard Glass, 63, a retired gas fitter, had heard about the scheme through his wife who volunteers at local hospitals feeding people who are unable to feed themselves. “As a gas fitter I know how to use tools and fitting smoke alarms is quite straight forward for me,” said Richard. “We have already been out fitting smoke alarms and so far there hasn’t been a single working smoke alarm in any of the houses I have visited.

“They have all been broken or had the batteries taken out, leaving people vulnerable. The alarms we fit last for ten years, are very easy to operate and test and are ideal for the elderly people who we are fitting them for.”

All of the volunteers have been provided with a uniform and ID badge as well as special training into how to fit smoke alarms and deliver appropriate fire safety information. They can explain to clients how important it is to fit and regularly test smoke alarms.

ECFRS’ Deputy Chief Fire Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Gordon Hunter said: “This scheme allows us to expand the amount of work we do in the community.  It is not here to replace work currently being done by our firefighters or our existing home fire safety technicians.

“In the current economic climate, it makes even more sense to work more closely with partners, including the voluntary sector.  By using this extra capacity of volunteers we can add more value with minimal costs.

“SAVS will use their existing community contacts to ensure that the scheme targets the most vulnerable people in the community and these are the very people that need smoke alarms most of all.

“We are pleased to be working with a reputable charity like SAVS and I believe that this partnership will enable both ECFRS and SAVS to use their different strengths to help us reach as many vulnerable people as possible and save lives. The scheme is running as a pilot until March 2012, and if it proves to be the success we think it will be, I hope it will expand across the county next year.   I believe we will see more and more schemes like this in the future. This is the Big Society in action.”

Alison Semmence, SAVS Chief Executive Officer, said: “Through working with the 297 voluntary and community sector groups who are members of  SAVS, we are able to reach the most vulnerable people in Southend.  Our members will be able to provide us with referrals of the hardest to reach people in our area to enable our volunteers to carry out the Home Safety visits and thus save lives.”

The volunteers are now in their third week and all are enjoying the experience. “Everyone is glad to see us,” said Ray. “We not only fit an the smoke alarm but we have a chance to chat with them and make sure they are generally OK.

“I think this scheme will really take off. Everyone wants to be safe in their home and everyone likes something for nothing and that is just what we are offering.”

None of the volunteers will turn up unannounced. All appointments are pre-booked and all volunteers wear a special uniform and carry ID badges to ensure the security of their customers.

Volunteers need to be able to commit to two days per week and should be from the Southend area.  For information about how to get involved please contact Anthony Quinn at SAVS on 01702 356072.