Firefighters will join Oxford Pride celebrations, marking the 20th anniversary of the event on Saturday, 03 June.
Oxfordshire’s firefighters – accompanied by Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment fire appliance – will join a parade from Rewley Road Fire Station in central Oxford. They will then continue through the city en route to the main Oxford Pride event.
Oxfordshire’s firefighters will show their support and commitment to diversity and encourage people to consider a career in fire and rescue, particularly for on-call, part-time roles.
Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are an inclusive organisation that serves everyone and are striving for greater diversity so that we can better engage with all the communities we serve. That is why we are proud to play a prominent role in this year’s events.
“In Oxfordshire, we welcome applications from LGBT+ communities, female, black and minority ethnic groups. These are all people who are underrepresented in our operational workforce, and we are determined to change that.”
Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “As long-standing allies of the LGBTQ+ community, we celebrate this important anniversary milestone. We support and respect members of the LGBTQ+ community, offering a safe working environment and exciting career opportunities.”
For further information about becoming an on-call firefighter, and other employment opportunities in Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, visit the recruitment webpage or email fire.recruitment@oxfordshire.gov.uk
In March 2022, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service received a Stonewall bronze award for its commitment and efforts to become an LGBTQ+ employer. Stonewall is the UK’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality, working to create a world where every lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer person is free to be themselves – wherever they are.
The award is part of Stonewall’s ‘Bring Yourself to Work’ campaign, developed by the LGBTQ+ equality charity to highlight the importance of inclusive work environments. The service was recognised for its commitment to including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning/queer people in the workplace.
