Our Visit from the GAFSIP Partnership 

We were proud to recently welcome six officers from the Gambia Fire and Rescue Service to the UK as part of our ongoing partnership through the Gambia Fire and Rescue Service Improvement Project (GAFSIP).  

Since 1991, the partnership has gained charity status and has helped hundreds of firefighters, their families, and communities through long-term collaboration, knowledge-sharing and practical support. GAFSIP sends vital equipment to the Gambia Fire and Rescue Service that is no longer in use in the UK, helping to make Gambia a safer place to live and work. Other fire and rescue services and organisations, such as Bristol Uniforms, have also donated items to the Gambia Fire and Rescue Service, supported by GAFSIP to help those in need.  

During their recent visit, the Gambian officers took part in a comprehensive programme of learning and development, including Administration and Leadership, Incident Command and Operations, Fire Scene Investigations, Press Relations, and Business Fire Safety. The visit provided a valuable opportunity for mutual learning, professional development, and the strengthening of long-standing international relationships. 

As part of their visit, the team also attended the unveiling of the new bleed kit at Temple and the closing-down ceremony at Bath Fire Station, experiencing first-hand the communications and events activities taking place across the service. 

The visit concluded on a meaningful note, with the Gambian officers presenting awards to Paul Goggin, Chair of the Fire Authority, and GAFSIP trustees Dave Price and Paul Kirk. The awards recognised their continued commitment and support of the partnership and its important work. 

We are grateful to everyone involved in making the visit such a success and proud to support this long-standing collaboration. By working together through GAFSIP, we continue to make a positive and lasting impact and look forward to strengthening the partnership further in the future.