The Independent Challenge and Support Panel formed by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has published a report focused on fire and rescue services culture and inclusion work.

There are concerning findings in the report that demonstrate institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic practices and attitudes. White Ribbon UK stands with the many individuals impacted by the harm they have experienced and witnessed in their workplaces.

The findings and recommendations in the report highlight how crucial it is for White Ribbon UK to continue working with these organisations, to support them to create positive culture change, ensuring that they are inclusive spaces for all.

We need to ensure that individuals who have been affected, and those who have shown they want to work in services that respect everyone equally, get the support they need to so that positive environments are the norm across all services, for all staff.

White Ribbon UK supports the Independent Challenge and Support Panel’s Calls to Action for the NFCC. These calls to action include:

• Listen to those with lived experience and act upon what they hear.

• Build in positive action at every stage of NFCC's Leadership Programmes, and Continuous Professional Development, supporting Fire and Rescue Service to do the same. Leaders need to be equipped with the skills and the confidence to take forward positive culture and inclusion improvement action within their role and their services.

• Embed impactful, culturally informed, consistent values-based leadership across all fire services.

• Establish arrangements, including resources to support further academic research around culture and best practice in the fire sector to support improvements.

White Ribbon UK will support the implementation of these actions through our work with fire and rescue services and in our public policy campaigning.