Community Volunteer Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for Cleveland Fire Brigade.
Cleveland Fire Brigade are committed to keeping the public of Teesside safe, with our mission being ‘To make Teesside Safer and Stronger’ and we recognise that Community Volunteers can be an invaluable asset to help us achieve this.
We have some fantastic opportunities to volunteer with us for you to give something back to your community and make a difference. It’s also a chance for you to use your experience to support others, build on your skills and become part of our team of volunteers.
What volunteers positions are available?
- Community Events Volunteer
- Safer Homes Volunteer
We are looking for volunteers that can:
- Support at community events (Community Events Volunteer) – Cleveland Fire Brigade support a range of events throughout the year such as open days on our stations, local fairs, and PRIDE to name but a few. Suitable volunteers would be selected to help run the days, be a representative of the Brigade and a visible point of contact.
There is a requirement to help facilitate a minimum of 3 community-based events per year. These are usually held on weekends (either Saturday or Sunday) with the commitment being 4 – 8 hours per event day.
- Help us to evaluate our Safer Homes Visits (Safer Homes Volunteer) – Every year we carry out around 20,000 Safer Homes Visits in the Teesside area, providing smoke detectors as well as discussing safety in the home, escape routes and the offer of partnership referrals where appropriate. An essential part of what we do is evaluating these to ensure that visits conducted are always of the highest standards and that the public we interact with are satisfied with the service they have received.
The expectation is to contact 10 residents of Teesside per month, who have recently accessed our Safer Homes Visit service to evaluate their experience and add their feedback to the Community Safety System. This is a commitment of around 5 – 10 hours per month. This could be done at home with a mobile phone and laptop being provided.
Our Values
What are the benefits?
Becoming a community volunteer for Cleveland Fire Brigade offers a wide range of benefits, both for individuals and the community.
- Personal fulfilment and sense of purpose
Giving Back to your community and making a difference. Volunteering with the fire and rescue service will allow you to contribute meaningfully to your community by assisting in emergency situations, disaster response, and public safety education.
- Developing Valuable Skills
Communication and teamwork are an essential aspect of everything we do. Working with fire and rescue personnel sharpens your ability to communicate effectively in high-pressure environments and fosters collaboration. Dependent on the role undertaken, you’ll learn to think critically and adapt to these situations.
- Making your community stronger
By volunteering, you can help with educational outreach, and community engagement activities such as at open days and local fetes. This will also connect you with others who are equally passionate about making the community safer, fostering relationships with like-minded individuals.
- Career Advancement and Networking
If you are considering a career in emergency services or public safety, volunteering provides valuable hands-on experience and insights into the field. You’ll have the opportunity to work alongside trained professionals in the fire and rescue service, building connections that could support future career opportunities or community initiatives.
In addition, volunteering with CFB is a notable accomplishment that showcases qualities like dedication, responsibility, and community commitment to potential employers.
- Being part of a trusted team that is consistently rated as one of the best Fire and Rescue Services in the country.
You will be part of a close-knit team that values trust, reliability, and teamwork. You’ll experience a sense of camaraderie and support while working together to keep the community safe.
- Specialised training and Knowledge
All of our volunteer roles will offer qualifications in health & safety via IOSH Working Safely as well as First Aid at Work Training.
What will I receive?
- Full induction and appropriate training,
- Introduction to the CFB Values and Behaviours framework,
- DBS (disclosure and Barring Service) check,
- Expenses incurred such as travel to and from,
- Cleveland Fire Brigade volunteer uniform,
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if required for specific roles.
- Health and Safety training in the form of IOSH Working Safely,
- Opportunities for future development,
- Written references where appropriate
- Free access to up-to-date on-site gyms
- Support when you may need it from the Fire Fighters Charity
- 24/7 Employee Assistance line plus excellent occupational health services
- Free parking at any of our sites
- Invite to our celebration evenings when new firefighters have finished their initial training programme or experienced staff are receiving their Long Service awards.
- Long Service Volunteer Award following five years of volunteering service.
We are an Equal Opportunities employer and aim to ensure that our workforce and volunteers are representative of the communities we serve. We understand that having a workforce and volunteers which is made up of those from the wide range of communities, localities and backgrounds will enable us to offer the best possible service through strong community links, better understanding of our communities and providing opportunities for all. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black or Minority Ethnic Backgrounds (BME), those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT) or are registered as disabled as these groups are currently underrepresented within our workforce and volunteers.
As part of our commitment to Safer Recruitment the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Standard DBS check, as well as a basic online search.
Where do I apply?
Click here to Apply Now!
For more information please call us on 01429 874058 or email recruitment@clevelandfire.gov.uk
