South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue has released a new video highlighting its commitment to supporting LGBT+ people across South Yorkshire and ensuring everyone feels welcome, respected and safe when interacting with the service.
The video is being shared outside of Pride Month deliberately, reinforcing the message that supporting LGBT+ communities is not something that should be limited to one month of the year.
Pride provides an important opportunity to celebrate LGBT+ communities, increase visibility and encourage conversations about inclusion. But for South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, building trust and supporting the diverse communities it serves is a year-round commitment.
Whether someone meets our firefighters during an emergency, receives a home fire safety visit, attends one of our events or engages with us in their community, we want every interaction with our service to be inclusive and respectful.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Andrew Strelzcenie said: "We're here for everyone in South Yorkshire, all year round. We want people to feel comfortable engaging with us and confident that, whenever they need our help, they will be treated with dignity, understanding and respect.
"Pride is an important opportunity to celebrate, listen and learn, but genuine inclusion is about what we do every day."
Building strong relationships with the communities we serve helps create trust and ensures people feel able to approach the service when they need help, advice or support.
The video also highlights the importance of visibility and allyship, and the role everyone can play in creating communities where people feel accepted and valued.
