London Fire Brigade, Co-op and HLP Christmas Day Experience Bringing together socially excluded residents in 2016 1
Five fire stations served a traditional turkey dinner for vulnerable residents on Christmas Day The Christmas Day experience was part of a new partnership between London Fire Brigade, The Coop and Healthy London Partnership The stations that took part: Dagenham Harrow Finchley Islington Leytonstone On the day I didn t want it to end Harrow Guest 2
Partnership working supports communities The festive meals brought together 35 vulnerable people and carers who may have otherwise been alone on Christmas Day and included over 30 volunteers from LFB and Co-op 3
Partnership working supports communities Food and soft drinks were provided by local Co-op branches and cooked by firefighters and volunteers in the stations 4
Highlights from the festivities A four year old, who attended Harrow Fire Station with his mother, had never received a Christmas present in his life. After a collection by a number of Fire Brigade staff, he received 24 toys on Christmas Day. Very friendly and amazing and helpful staff. Felt like family members while working on this event. - Volunteer 5
Highlights from the festivities I got a great deal of satisfaction knowing that at least for a few hours on Christmas day we made a difference. Thank you for the opportunity. - Volunteer Leytonstone fire crew escorted one 75-year-old lady half a mile to and from the event when the arranged taxi wasn t able to accommodate her wheelchair. 6
Highlights from the festivities A 99 year-old was among the guests enjoying Christmas Day at Dagenham Fire Station While a 92 year-old guest with long term conditions enjoyed the day at Leytonstone Fire Station Your firemen/women are a credit to your organisation they help turn Christmas Day into a very special day for people who would have been on their own. Thank you for asking me to help. Volunteer 7
Feedback in people s own words I never ever imagined that one day my son and I would have a memorable Christmas day like that. The love and care we received and the hot meals, is something I will never forget nor will I stop thinking about the warm welcome from everyone present that day. I can not conclude my writing without mentioning my son s joy that day because I have never bought him Christmas present since he was born, for him to go home with a big bag of presents means a lot to us. He said: mum, why did father Christmas give me everything, am I special? - Harrow Guest Everyone is friendly and really felt a sense of everyone pulling together and wanting to make the day special for their guests. - Volunteer On the big day Mike and Jill came to wheel me around to the fire station in my wheelchair. Turkey, pork and all the trimmings were dished up onto plates and the table had been nicely decorated. A goody bag was given at home time and a very enjoyable day was had by all. Mike and another fireman took me home leaving with a tea and biscuit. - Leytonstone Guest 8
Feedback in people s own words I would like to thank the London Fire Brigade and Co-op for giving me the best Christmas as my family live a distance away. It made my Christmas special to be invited to spend Christmas Day at the station, making new friends. It was nice for everyone for that special day to be given happiness and a smile whatever circumstances and sadness is happening in their lives. It was nice to see Santa come and seeing the children smiling and sat on Santa s lap. Parents were smiling and one parent was crying with emotion. - Harrow Guest Supporting this event has supported my on-going respect and pride to work for my employer and those I work with. - Organisation Lead Benefits of the Experience: Experiencing the warmth of being together Enfield guest The opportunity to devote a bit of my time to people who would otherwise have spent Christmas alone. Volunteer We have built a better and longer lasting relationship with the community. Organisation Lead 9
Media coverage 10
Circulation: 11,496 The Independent ITV news (online) North London Newspapers Boreham Wood & Elstree Times East London and West Sussex Guardian 11
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Social media 13
#ChristmasDinners 9 tweets 2,519 impressions 346 likes 123 re-tweets 5 shares 14
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What next? The Christmas Day Experience came about because of a shared NHS, London Fire Brigade and Co-op commitment to work together to make an impact in local communities. The partnership formed after LFB and Co-op each separately contacted Healthy London Partnership to discuss ways of working together to support communities. Follow-up fire safety visits by LFB staff are already being provided in the homes of those residents who attended on 25 December We are now exploring other ways the partnership can make a positive impact on the health of London s communities in 2017. This includes trial and testing Fire, Safe and Well visits in 5 local pilots one in each London Sustainability & Transformation Plan footprint. 16
Thank you to everyone at London Fire Brigade and the Co-op who made the 2016 Christmas Day Experience possible 17
Inspired? Want to see how your organisation could work with us? Please email charlotte.owen6@nhs.net for further information 18