Fire and rescue service (FRS) Prevention teams from across the UK were recognised at NFCC’s Celebrating Prevention Awards 2025 last week. 

The Awards recognise the incredible work fire and rescue services are undertaking across road, home and water safety, as well as children and young people and partnership working, and reflected the theme of this year’s NFCC Prevention Conference –Lead, Innovate and Champion. 

Now in its fourth year the momentum of excellence has shone through with a record-breaking year of 123 award nominations from thirty-four FRSs and a further twenty-eight fire volunteers recognised – doubling the number of entries from last year across all categories.  

All the nominations demonstrated some fantastic Prevention practice from FRSs across the country, and the excellence of nominations made the decisions by the judging panels challenging with a great deal of discussion.  

Chris Kirby, NFCC’s Prevention Committee Lead and Chief Fire Officer for South Yorkshire, said:  

“NFCC’s Celebrating Prevention Awards is one of the highlights of the events calendar, where we get to celebrate and recognise the outstanding work carried out by FRS Prevention Teams and their partners each and every day. 

 “I’m continually inspired by the dedication, innovation and leadership demonstrated by those who are passionate about keeping their communities safe. It makes me incredibly proud to be part of the fire sector.”   

This year’s Celebrating Prevention Awards winners are: 

• The Donna Crossman, Children and Young People Award – Rita Richardson, Cleveland Fire Brigade. (now Fire Safety Education Officer, StayWise). 

• Road Safety Award – Billy Fenwick, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. 

• Home Safety Award – Dr Emma Dean, Lyndsey Bell and Sarah Hardman, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. 

• Water Safety Award – Community Safety Department, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. 

• Children and Young People Award – Developing Resilience Program, Cumbria Prevention Team and Station Manager Andrew Lowes, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service. 

• Partnership Working Award – Closing the Gap: A National Model for Fire Safety in Learning Disabilities Care – Norfolk Waveney Integrated Care Board, West Norfolk Learning Disabilities Team, Adult Social Care, and the Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service.  

• Special Recognition – Charlie Pugsley, latterly London Fire Brigade. 

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners whose work is making a tangible difference to Prevention activities and community safety across the UK. 

Ends 

Notes to editors 

• The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is a charity and an independent membership association and the professional voice of the UK Fire and Rescue Service. NFCC supports fire and rescue services to help them to save lives and keep their local communities safe.