New Government Funding to Support Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Across North Yorkshire

A new national programme providing bespoke health support and funded research for firefighters has been welcomed by local leaders across North Yorkshire.

A new national programme of bespoke health support for firefighters has been announced by the Government, aiming to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of crews across North Yorkshire.

The initiative includes regular, consistent health checks and funded research into the long-term impacts of the job. The measures form part of a new Firefighters' Concordat on Health and Wellbeing, which has been developed in collaboration with the profession.

Leaders across York and North Yorkshire have said the announcement reflects concerns that have already been raised locally. The new funding builds on existing work set out in the Mayor's Fire and Rescue Plan and the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service's Community Risk Management Plan.

Firefighters routinely respond to fires, serious road traffic collisions, flooding, and other emergencies, often working in hazardous environments. Local leaders have stressed that it is vital those who run towards danger are properly protected themselves, both during their service and long after they retire.

During a fire and rescue Online Public Meeting held on Thursday the sixteenth of April, local discussions highlighted the long-term health risks firefighters face. These risks stem from exposure to contaminants, physical strain, and trauma, with impacts that may not become apparent until years later. The Government's announcement is being seen as a crucial step in addressing these risks consistently across the country.

Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, Jo Coles, welcomed the new Government funding and commitments.

She said:

"Firefighters in York and North Yorkshire face real physical and mental demands in their work protecting our communities. This Government commitment recognises that firefighter health and wellbeing must be treated as a long-term priority, not an afterthought.

"Mayor David Skaith and I have made workforce safety and wellbeing central to our Fire and Rescue Plan and this national funding will help strengthen our local work."

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer, Jonathan Dyson, also praised the initiative.

He said:

"I welcome the Government's commitment to improving firefighter health and wellbeing through the introduction of a Firefighters' Concordat, stronger national research and a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention.

"A clearer, evidence-based national approach particularly around occupational health monitoring and better recognition of the risks firefighters face has the potential to make a meaningful difference during service and long after people leave the role. We already work hard to protect the health of our workforce and it's important that this builds on existing good practice and strengthens consistency.

"Looking after firefighter health is not just about supporting our people it is fundamental to protecting the communities we serve. A healthy, well-supported workforce is better able to respond safely and effectively and that resilience benefits everyone. We look forward to engaging with partners across the sector to help shape a concordat."

The Combined Authority has stated that York and North Yorkshire is well placed to make the most of the new national funding and framework. The Mayor's Fire and Rescue Plan sets clear priorities around workforce wellbeing, safety, and resilience, recognising that a healthy, supported workforce is central to protecting local people.

At the same time, the Community Risk Management Plan already places a strong emphasis on understanding and reducing risk, not just to communities, but to firefighters themselves. This is achieved through prevention, evidence-led decision-making, and safe operational practice.

The benefits of the programme are expected to be felt far beyond the fire station. When firefighters are healthier and better supported, they are better equipped to respond safely and effectively to emergencies, which supports public confidence and the long-term resilience of local fire and rescue services.

The Combined Authority will continue to work closely with the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, national partners, and the Government as further details of the programme are confirmed.