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It works! Matt Maguire LGBT Champion and Firepride (LGBT network) Chair

It works! Matt Maguire LGBT Champion and Firepride (LGBT network) Chair Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. Cheshire Fire and Rescue - who we are. Achieved ‘Excellent’ in Fire and Rescue Service Equality Framework in 2011 Entered the Stonewall Top 100 at no.45 in 2013 2010 - 224 th

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It works! Matt Maguire LGBT Champion and Firepride (LGBT network) Chair

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  1. It works! Matt Maguire LGBT Champion and Firepride (LGBT network) Chair Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

  2. Cheshire Fire and Rescue - who we are • Achieved ‘Excellent’ in Fire and Rescue Service Equality Framework in 2011 • Entered the Stonewall Top 100 at no.45 in 2013 • 2010 - 224th • 2011 - 198th • 2012 - 146th • 2013 - 45th

  3. Our Journey

  4. Small but perfectly formed • Cheshire has a population of over 1m people, Cheshire Fire has around 900 employees and 200 volunteers. We have over 30 Straight Allies and 15 membersof our Firepride Network

  5. Firepride network • Regular communication both to Network and Service-wide • Events , articles, monthly bulletin, intranet and social media • Inclusive, not an exclusive • Proactive, helping LGBT staff to plug in to the organisation • Using Stonewall to benchmark progress - gap analysis, actions plans, appraisals and accountability

  6. We needed something else, to address fire service culture, geography, shift systems etc. • Our scheme was inspired by Stonewall conference and Accenture’s scheme • Set out ambition to; • Draw attention to LGBT issues (internally) • Expand awareness & involvement outside HQ • Additional support to staff and managers at a time of significant change

  7. How we launched it • Significant pre-launch communication • Used Stonewall Top100 publicity to raise profile of LGBT • Service-wide posters and articles • Briefings at meetings and forums - need to hear real stories from real people • Controversy - a talking point! Used to positive effect

  8. Straight Allies – How it works • Initial target – one at every station and HQ department • Directory with contact details and “I’m an Ally because...” quotes • Pack with ‘light’ handbook and key documents • Posters on stations etc, resources online etc. • Joint ally/network events

  9. The role of an ally...

  10. How are we embedding it... • Service-wide promotion • Mainstreamed into equality approach – i.e. Managing Banter Conference • Specialised Ally training – promoting a broad skill-set • Used to create discussions and promote engagement (Pride etc) • Allow us to explore differences in operational / non-operational experiences

  11. Make it relevant/proportionate to your organisation • Work with cultures – not against • Target leaders and champions not just Leaders • Keep it open and accessible –Inclusivity is the new Equality • Use Stonewall, LGF and other networks for research/support • Get out there and sell it through people, not words

  12. Thank you matthew.maguire@cheshirefire.gov.uk firepride@cheshirefire.gov.uk www.cheshirefire.gov.uk

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