Gambia and Avon Fire Services in Partnership
(GAFSIP), was the inspiration of ex-Avon Chief Fire
Officer, Dave Hutchings, who witnessed a fatal road traffic
collision when holidaying in The Gambia in 1991.
Dave was shocked to see how little equipment the Gambian
firefighters had to work with, compared to his colleagues at home,
and vowed to make it his mission to help.
Nineteen years on, the partnership has gained charity status and
has helped hundreds of firefighters, their families and communities
along the way. GAFSIP sends equipment that Avon no longer uses to
The Gambia and provides vital training to keep their fire and
ambulance services running.
The success of this long term working partnership is evident,
not only in The Gambia Fire & Rescue Service (GF&RS),
but also through the provision of humanitarian aid to local
communities.
Each year GAFSIP endeavours to send a shipment to The Gambia
containing old firefighting equipment, such as fire kit and boots,
old fire engines and rescue boats. This equipment has come to the
end of its service life here at Avon, but is of huge value to the
people of The Gambia - it's the ultimate in recycling.
To date, over 40 fire and rescue vehicles, breathing apparatus,
road accident rescue equipment, airfield crash tenders, rope rescue
sets and ancillary vehicles have been donated.
GFAS now employs more than 1,000 people and the 800 jobs
created mean many more families are provided for with security and
respect in their communities.
As well as helping the Gambia Fire & Rescue Service, GAFSIP
works tirelessly to raise awareness and collect donations for
Gambian schools and community groups in need.
Alongside the old fire equipment, the charity sends out
blackboards, pens and pencils, books and computers to The Gambia -
all donated by local schools and people who want to help those less
fortunate than themselves.
AF&RS staff support the charity in many ways, including some
extreme charity fundraising events.
These include cycling, canoeing and running across The Gambia
(The
Ultimate Challenge 2007), Driving from Bristol to Banjul
in a Landrover, and from Bristol to The Gambia in an old Ambulance
in - Don't Panic 2007.
How can you help?
All donations directly benefit the lives of people in The
Gambia.
You can make a donation by visiting www.justgiving.com/gafsip/donate
or by writing a cheque to: GAFSIP, and sending it to The Finance
Manager (GAFSIP), Avon Fire & Rescue Service HQ, Temple Back,
Bristol, BS1 6EU.
If you would like to know more about GAFSIP or sponsorship, please
visit www.gafsip.org or
call David Hutchings, GAFSIP Patron, on 01454 772529.
