Sponsored by the Fire Service College, The Supporter Of The Year – Fire and Rescue Service award, was presented to representatives from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service at The Fire Fighters Charity’s Spirit of Fire Awards. The award recognises the contribution made to supporting The Fire Fighters Charity since 2015. The awards ceremony took place at One Great George Street in Westminster, after which winners and nominees attended a reception at No.10 Downing Street hosted by Home Secretary, Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP.

The Fire Fighters Charity’s Spirit of Fire Awards recognise the support and dedication of firefighters and fire and rescue service personnel from across the UK. The event saw the presentation of 11 awards – including a Special Recognition award for Dany Cotton, the Commissioner of London Fire Brigade, for her contribution in promoting positive mental health across the fire service.

Falling in the 75th anniversary year of The Fire Fighters Charity – the UK’s leading provider of health and wellbeing services for the fire community – the Spirit of Fire Awards was hosted by BBC Newsreader, Nicholas Owen.

Speaking of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s Supporter of The Year – Fire and Rescue Service award, Chief Executive of The Fire Fighters Charity, Dr Jill Tolfrey, said: “Mid and West Wales’s award is thoroughly deserved. Despite being a mostly on-call and rural Service, it has seen its fundraising contributions over the past 15 years increase from around £20,000 per year to over £140,000. This has been down to staff from across the Service enthusiastically organising an array of fundraising events and personal challenges each year, these include the annual Tenby Firefighter Carnival and the Swansea Christmas Donkey collection, which has been running for 30 years. A hugely committed Service, this award is very well deserved.”