Fakenham business raises funds for the Firefighters Charity

Employees of a local business have donated funds raised over the course of 2022 to the Firefighters Charity at Fakenham Fire Station, contributing to their vital work supporting Firefighters across the country.

The funds were raised by staff at Kinnerton, a confectionery company based in Fakenham, whose employees nominate charities for whom to fundraise. Over the course of 2022 Kinnerton employees organised raffles, bake sales and more to raise the funds for the Firefighters Charity.

The Firefighters Charity is a national charity that provides support and assistance to serving and retired firefighters, as well as their families. It plays a vital role in ensuring that firefighters have access to the help they need in times of hardship or injury.

Employees from Kinnerton, including on-call firefighters who work with the company, came together with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service officers at Fakenham Fire Station on 23 February to pass the donation to the Firefighters Charity.

Cllr Margaret Dewsbury, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: "I want to say a truly heartfelt thank you to all the staff at Kinnerton for their outstanding fundraising efforts in support of the Firefighters Charity. The Firefighters Charity provides vital support to our firefighters and their families, and it is heartening to see our community come together to help those who serve us so bravely."

"The dedication and bravery of our firefighters cannot be overstated. They put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe, and it is essential that we support them in return. The Firefighters Charity provides a crucial lifeline for those who need it most, and I am delighted that a local business not only recognises the importance of their work, but has been able to contribute to it as well."

Charlotte Smith, Community Fundraiser with the Firefighters Charity, said: "On behalf of everyone at The Fire Fighters Charity, I want to sincerely thank everyone involved for this kind donation from Kinnerton Confectionery - we hugely appreciate the support. Donations like this go such a long way towards helping us continue offering vital health and wellbeing support to our fire services community. With your help, we can ensure they always have somewhere to turn."

The Firefighters Charity provides a range of services to support firefighters, including rehabilitation services, mental health support, and financial assistance. This important work helps to ensure that firefighters can continue to serve their communities with confidence and resilience.

Richard Nevard, HR Lead at Kinnerton Confectionery, said: "Each year Kinnerton employees nominate charities that have links to the business or to the local area. In 2022 Donna Emptage nominated the fire fighters charity because she understood the value of the service from a good friend of hers who has been a firefighter for many years. The employee engagement group at Fakenham voted to adopt the charity for 2022 and raise money from activities including raffles and bake sales.

"A further link to our business is that one of the firefighters based at Fakenham fire station is Bradley Wright who is also an employee at Kinnerton and we value the important and difficult work that he carries out along with his colleagues across the fire service. I am very pleased that we have been able to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity that will allow it to continue to support those who need it."

For more information about the Firefighters Charity go to  www.firefighterscharity.org.uk .