Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service forms partnership to help people involved in serious road traffic collisions

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service is the first fire service to partner with a charity to help those affected by serious road traffic collisions. 

Chief Fire Officer, Ceri Sumner, has signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding' with the Road Victims Trust, so fire fighters at the scene of an accident can signpost people to get ongoing help from the charity. 

The Road Victims Trust (RVT) works to help people impacted by grief or trauma following a road death, serious injury or life-changing collision. It offers emotional and practical help, as well as a specialist counselling service to people across the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. 

The charity, which started offering its support services in this county last summer after receiving funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk, provides free and confidential support for as long as it is needed to those affected by serious collisions - including witnesses. 

Terry Pinto, Group Manager - Prevention Lead at Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We have a shared goal with the Road Victims Trust of seeing a reduction in the number of fatal and life-changing collisions in Norfolk. 

"But we also want to provide the best possible support for those who have been involved in something so serious and heartbreaking. We will be carrying the details of the RVT on our fire engines and response vehicles so we can help people to get the support they need."

Mark Turner, Chief Executive of the Road Victims Trust, said: "I am so pleased we have formed this partnership with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and hope it leads to us working directly with other fire services in the country. 

"We offer specialist support to help rebuild victims lives after serious road traffic collisions and by working with the fire service, we can offer these important services to more people."
Last year, the charity supported 476 people who had been affected by fatal and life-changing road traffic collisions. 

This partnership builds on Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service's continued work with other key agencies to help reduce the number and impact of serious and fatal collisions in the county.