Staffordshire Fire & Rescue: AFSA Awards!

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service are celebrating after being shortlisted for several national awards and winning three awards at the Asian Fire Service Association Awards National Conference in Royal Berkshire.

Among the winners were Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive Officer (CFO/CEO) Becci Bryant who received the award for Leadership in Equality and Diversity, Diane Dunlevey, Equality and Diversity Manager, who won the Award for Outstanding Endeavour by an AFSA member and Kelvin Chell, along with the Stokie Christmas Market Team, who were given the award for Outstanding Contribution to Charitable Activity.

CFO/CEO Becci Bryant has been dedicated to equality and diversity both in her time as chief since 2016 and throughout her 25 year career..

She said: “It was an honour to have been shortlisted for this award and a real privilege to have won. I am extremely proud of the other members of the Service who have been shortlisted and won awards. It is fantastic to see them recognised for their dedication and hard work.”

Diane Dunlevey won the Award for Outstanding Endeavour by an AFSA member. She was selected as winner due to her work for AFSA over the past two years, including her contribution to national documentation on Equality and Fairness in the Fire Service. Diane is the only woman and non-Asian to have held the Chair and Vice Chair roles within the organisation.

She said: “I am immensely proud to be an advocate of an Association which is highly recognised and supported in the UK, and other parts of the world, for its contributions to social justice.”

Kelvin Chell and his colleagues have raised more than £35,000 for charity through events such as the Stokie Christmas Market in Hanley, curry nights, bingo and sponsored walks.

He said: “I was pleased to have been nominated for this award and honoured once I found out that I had won, but this is a team effort and all members of the team should also be recognised within this award.”

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