Thursday 26 February
0800hrs
Nine members of Avon Fire & Rescue Service staff have been
celebrating after completing their British Sign Language (BSL)
Level One course.
The uniformed and support staff were presented with their
certificates at a ceremony at the service’s Headquarters this
week.
David Barnes, Anna Brown, Kevin Escott, David Fleck, Steven
McGreavy, Nikki Rice, Steven Shipway, Siobhan Urch and Gavin Wills
have all completed the 33 week course as part of the service’s
efforts to engage with all community groups.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service now has 20 members of staff who
have completed the BSL Level One qualification and there are plans
to run further courses.
In January 2008 a firefighter from Southmead Fire Station, who
also learnt BSL, was able to use his newly-acquired skills to help
crews communicate with a man, who was deaf, at the scene of a car
fire.
Chris Bailes, Station Manager in Avon’s Equality and Diversity
Team, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for all those who have
completed the level one BSL course.
"Avon Fire & Rescue Service is committed to making sure
people from all community groups can access its services and this
achievement is just another step in the right direction.”
Ends