AFSA Winter Conference 2024.

Last year, I attended my first-ever AFSA conference, and it was after that event that I knew it wouldn’t be the last if I could help it.

The Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA) exists to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion within fire and rescue services, ensuring they reflect and effectively serve the diverse communities they protect. AFSA advocates for underrepresented groups, especially those from minority ethnic backgrounds, championing fair treatment, career development, and inclusive workplace cultures. It provides a platform for sharing best practices, influencing policy, and offering guidance on cultural awareness, all while fostering stronger relationships between fire services and the communities they serve. Through mentoring, events, and training, AFSA is committed to creating a more equitable and representative fire service.

This year’s Winter conference was hosted by Avon Fire and Rescue Service at the Hilton Hotel in Bristol, with the theme "Listen and Lead – Cultivating the Courage to Change Through a Listening Culture."

The Hilton DoubleTree Hotel on Redcliffe Way is a blend of historic charm and modern convenience, and the atmosphere was vibrant, charged with energy. The attendees ranged from firefighters to Chief Fire Officers, all of whom were passionate advocates for diversity. One feature I particularly liked was the "thought tree" at the entrance of the conference room, where delegates could write notable moments from the event on luggage tags and share them throughout the day.

There were so many key speakers that it’s hard to narrow them down to just three, but here are the most memorable for me:

Tom Marshman – "Section 28 and Me”.

Tom Marshman shared a deeply personal exploration of the impact of Section 28, a UK law enacted from 1988 to 2003 that prohibited schools and local authorities from "promoting homosexuality." His autobiographical reflections, combined with stories of queer individuals across generations, highlighted resilience in the face of forced invisibility, providing both poignant and playful insights.

Kayley Bridges, Avon FRS – ‘This is Me’

Kayley shared her journey of becoming a prison officer, enduring a culture where she wasn’t respected or welcomed, which ultimately led her to leave the profession. She later became a firefighter and recounted the challenges she faced, overcoming them with the support of colleagues and being her authentic self. Her story left the room silent, ending with a standing ovation—an incredibly inspiring speech.

Southall Black Sisters (SBS)

Southall Black Sisters (SBS) is a UK-based organisation dedicated to supporting Black and minoritised women experiencing domestic violence, forced marriages, and other forms of abuse. Founded in 1979, SBS offers advocacy, refuge services, and legal support to women often excluded from mainstream services. Their work has challenged systemic issues like female genital mutilation, honour-based violence, and race- and gender-based discrimination, leading to significant legal and public awareness changes.

Delegates had the opportunity to attend one of three workshops: 

- Workshop 1: Enough is Enough – Ending Violence Against Women & Girls, Southall Black Sisters 

- Workshop 2: Championing Neurodiversity Across Your Organisation, Melanie Francis, Director, DO IT Solutions 

- Workshop 3: Key Safeguarding and Prevention Strategies When Working With Diverse Communities, Professor Aisha K. Gill Ph.D CBE

Professor Aisha K. Gill’s talk on safeguarding strategies for Black and minoritised communities highlighted the unique challenges these communities face. Her focus on intersectional safeguarding emphasised how systemic racism, immigration status, and cultural stigmas often compound vulnerabilities and limit access to support.

Day 1 Reflections:

The conference reaffirmed the importance of creating an inclusive culture within the fire service. Kayley Bridges’ powerful story made me realise the profound impact that authentic self-expression can have on job satisfaction and success. Her journey of overcoming obstacles to thrive in a supportive environment resonated deeply. Similarly, Professor Aisha K. Gill’s insights on intersectional safeguarding strategies reinforced the necessity of addressing the unique barriers faced by diverse groups. These reflections reaffirmed my commitment to ensuring that fire services are diverse, inclusive, and offer equal opportunities for all. Leadership, I now realise, requires a willingness to listen, understand, and take meaningful action to better serve everyone in our organisations and the communities we protect.

Highlights from Day 2: 

The focus on “Listen and Lead” continued, with ACFO Paula Lyons, Avon FRS, sharing an incredibly personal story. She recounted her journey from childhood, when she dreamed of becoming a firefighter, and overcome gender biases in her career.

Despite facing challenges and resistance, she persisted.

Her story culminated in a deeply emotional recollection of her time at Shirley Towers, where she was part of the emergency BA team responding to the tragedy that claimed the lives of firefighters James Shears and Alan Bannon. Paula’s resilience and determination moved me deeply, inspiring me to push through resistance and stay true to my own path.

Kola Wale, Senior Service Designer, shared a humorous yet thought-provoking story of his experience as a new arrival in the UK, where his attempt to cook plantain set off the fire alarms in his building.

This story served as a powerful reminder that cultural differences can lead to misunderstandings, and that we must listen and approach others with empathy and understanding.

Kola asked for delegates to express what they thought this items purpose was:

Many replied ‘a broom’ or ‘a bug sweeper’ but in Nigeria this is used for cooking. The point being made is that we often make assumptions that people think the same way we do, but we need to listen and understand others more in an empathetic way.

Workshop 1: How Do We Redesign Services and Manage Our Journey, Case Study Avon FRS 

Workshop 2: The Power of Bystanders – Training to Make It Work Within the FRS 

Workshop 3: Listening and the New Language of Leadership – Putting It Into Practice 

I chose to attend Workshop 2, which focused on the importance of being an active bystander and the consequences of not standing up for what is right.

The workshop gave me practical tools to address unacceptable behaviour in a constructive way, empowering delegates to support both the victim and the organisation by using the 4 Ds;

Direct: Intervene directly by addressing the harmful behaviour. This can include speaking up and confronting the individual exhibiting the behaviour or offering support to the victim. It’s essential to ensure the situation is safe for everyone involved.

Distract: Create a diversion to de-escalate the situation. This could involve changing the subject, asking the victim to join you in a different activity, or redirecting attention away from the harmful behaviour to interrupt the dynamic without confrontation.

Delegate: If it feels unsafe to intervene directly, delegate the responsibility to someone else. This might involve notifying a supervisor, security personnel, or someone in authority who can address the situation appropriately.

Document: In situations where direct intervention is not possible, document the incident. Record what you see or hear to provide evidence later, which can be important for investigations or legal action.

Networking and Community Engagement

The conversations I had with fellow attendees reflected a wide range of perspectives. One individual shared their frustration, remarking that, despite years of discussions, we still seem to be grappling with the same issues without achieving significant progress within organisations. Conversely, others I spoke to acknowledged the strides we’ve made, noting visible changes within the service over time.

Although I have only been in the fire and rescue service for five years, I recognise that this doesn’t exempt me from having an opinion. I do, however, perceive a positive shift in the culture since I joined in 2019. This contrast in perspectives reminds me of a Cherokee parable:

A grandfather tells his grandson that two wolves are battling inside every person. One represents anger, greed, envy, and other destructive emotions, while the other symbolises kindness, love, humility, and positive traits. When the grandson asks which wolf will win, the grandfather replies, "The one you feed."

This story serves as a powerful reminder that we all face internal battles in how we choose to respond to life’s challenges. Our actions, thoughts, and decisions profoundly impact our well-being and the world around us. By choosing to nurture the positive wolf within us, we can create a more constructive and fulfilling life—a mindset I believe is vital in all aspects of life.

As with many conferences, I left feeling energised and brimming with new ideas. The two days of learning and sharing left me with plenty to reflect on, and I feel inspired to start implementing some of the concepts. While I’m eager to share everything I’ve learned, I also appreciate the importance of a measured approach. Not everyone I engage with will be on the same wavelength, so I will treat this experience as though driving in the dark—moving forward step by step, reaching one destination at a time.