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Read the full storyDelivery of Six donated Fire Appliances to Teesport Docks for shipping to Zimbabwe
Operation Florian continues to support the donation of fire appliances to Fire and Rescue Services in Zimbabwe. This latest venture involved the donation of six fire appliances. Four for Harare ( 2 x Dennis ex Cleveland Fire Brigade and 2 x Mercedes ex South Wales FRS), one for Masvingo ( 1 x DAF ex Lancashire FRS) and one for Chinoyi ( 1 x Volvo ex GMC FRS).
The six vehicles were driven from Chorley Lancashire to Teesport docks by 7 Operation Florian volunteer members. From there they will be shipped to Walvis Bay in Namibia were they will be picked up by the respective services they are being donated to. They will them drive them overland to their respective destinations. This is a journey of over 1500 miles.
Team Members
Paul Rigden Lancashire FRS
Barry Meadows ex Lancashire FRS
Simon Bonney ex Lancashire FRS
Adam Flynn Lancashire FRS Fleet
Bernie Lees ex GMC FRS
Gary Higson ex GMC FRS
Martin Brien GMC FRS Fleet
A special thanks to Cleveland Fire Brigade, GMC FRS, Lancashire FRS and South Wales FRS in donating these ex service vehicles. Although they have been replaced by new fire appliances in the UK they still have a useful service life. They will provide vital fire cover in areas throughout Zimbabwe. With their help we are creating safer communities.
Projects like this could not be achieved without our dedicated team volunteers from within Operation Florian. They give up their time to help their fellow firefighters in need.
Read the full storyOperation Florian Suspends International Travel
Due to current government advice all international travel for Operation Florian is temporarily suspended . A reviewed risk assessment will be issued shortly.
Read the full storyA massive thank you to all who took part in and supported 365 for 999
On Thursday the 18th of November firefighters from Littleborough Fire Station completed their challenge to run a mile a day in fire kit for a year. They raised over £8000. The conclusion was timed nicely to coincide with the Children in need appeal which will receive a third of the monies raised. along with Operation Florian and the Firefighters Charity.
The Operation Florian Project in Cape Verde will benefit from the teams efforts with monies going towards getting a fire appliance there to support the work of the firefighters.
Urgent Message to Our Supporters as Operation Florian Move to JustGiving
As Virgin Money Giving closes at the end of November we have now moved to JustGiving to manage our donations. Like all charities the pandemic has really hit our finances so please consider donating what you can to support our life saving projects
If you are one of our regular donators we thank you from the bottom of our hearts and urge you to go to the JustGiving Site to renew your pledge
Please Donate Here Read the full storyOperation Florian Team Begin Their Journey On Remembrance Sunday 2021 to Deliver Vehicles and Equipment to Macedonia
On Sunday 14 November 2021 our team set off from West Sussex on the journey to Macedonia to deliver three fire engines and a large selection of donated equipment.
The vehicles were donated by Dorset Fire and Rescue service and will soon be in active service in the North Macedonia communities of Novaci, Kamenica and Sveti Nikole. On arrival the teams will deliver training to ensure crews are familiar with the equipment
They left at 07:00 for the port of Dover. Crossing the channel at 09:00 to arrive in Calais for12:00hrs
They will then travel through France Switzerland and Italy to arrive in Bari (Italy) on the 15th November. The following day they will take the ferry to Duress, Albania and aim to arrive at their destination in Macedonia by 18.00 on the 16th November.
Training will be carried out on the 17,18,19 and 20th November with the team flying home on the 21st.
We would like to thank our Trustee/Director Roy Barraclough and fellow members for their hard work preparing the vehicles and equipment ready for mission and for giving up their time and skill to support the project. Safe Journey and good luck team.
Read the full storyEquipment donation to Zimbabwe October 2021
Operation Florian members loaded a 40 foot container with vital life saving equipment to support the fire and ambulance service in Zimbabwe. This crucial donation from our charity will support our ongoing projects in Bulawayo and Harare with more to follow in the coming months (watch this space) as we cautiously start to return to operational projects we hope to be able to follow up donations of equipment and vehicles with the vital element of on site training when it is considered safe to do so. As we publish this news item this container is well on its way and eagerly awaited by our friends in Zimbabwe
The charity is forever grateful for the support we receive from fire and rescue services and commercial organisations who support us with donations of equipment on a regular basis. Thanks also to our supporters who fund raise and donate money to enable us to continue this vital work.
Read the full storyAlmost There !!! ..Firefighters getting close to completing their challenge to run a mile a day for a year to raise money for three fantastic charities!
On the 18th November 2020, firefighters from Littleborough Fire Station started their challenge to run a mile in fire kit around Littleborough each day to raise money for Children in Need, Operation Florian and the Firefighter’s Charity.
The firefighters are running a route around Littleborough Fire Station, so cheer us on if you see us – you can also join in if you wish! Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are following appropriate social distancing guidelines during each run to keep each other and the wider community safe.
We are doing this in support of three fantastic charities:
Children in Need: Children in Need supports almost 4,000 local charities across the UK and supports children and young people affected by a whole range of disadvantages such as poverty, disability, illness, distress or trauma. They also work with a range of partners to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the UK’s children and young people, including: mental health and wellbeing, violence impacting young people, child sexual exploitation, holiday hunger; access to employment, and social injustice.
Operation Florian (Cape Verde project): Operation Florian is a UK Fire Service Humanitarian Charity working to promote the protection of life amongst communities in need, worldwide, by the provision of equipment and training to improve firefighting and rescue capabilities. The Greater Manchester team have been working in Cape Verde, providing training and equipment to their firefighters. The team worked with firefighters on the island of São Nicolau in November 2019, and are currently fundraising for firefighters on the island to have access to a fire engine.
Firefighters Charity: The Firefighters Charity provides personalised support to the whole of the fire services community, delivering mental health, physical health and social wellbeing services to serving and retired fire services personnel.
We appreciate all the support we receive for our fundraising efforts. Every social media like or share and every donation makes a huge difference!
Firefighting PPE Donated by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service August 2021
Three hundred and fifty items of firefighting PPE was delivered to our Lancashire storage facility by Gary Scott of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.
These items will be distributed between a number of planned projects over the next 18 months. Without the help of UK FRS and other organisations we could not fulfil our aims of creating safer communities throughout the world.
If your organisation has surplus equipment that could be used for fire and ambulance services in our projects then please get in touch using the contacts section.
Latest Update On Our Kenya Project August 2021
Operation Florian and Workington Rotary International are continuing their partnership to deliver fire appliances, equipment and training to the Homa Bay Region in Kenya. This is the second phase of this joint venture.
The first phase involved the shipping of two fire appliances donated by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and equipment donated by Operation Florian. This was followed by members of Operation Florian and Workington Rotary flying out to Kenya to carry out a training programme.
This latest phase is centred round shipping of two Volvo Fire appliances donated by Greater Manchester Fire Service to Operation Florian and equipment sourced by Operation Florian. This will be followed in the future by Operation Florian members and Workington Rotary carrying out a two week training course in the Homa Bay Region. The training will consist of pump familiarisation and pump operation, ladder drills, firefighting and rescue exercises, basic first aid and equipment maintenance. The timing is subject to the pandemic that is ever present.
This donation of vehicles and equipment is much needed in the Homa Bay Region. The fire cover is minimal and recourses virtually non excitant. Backed up by training this donation will enable Homa Bay to increase the level fire service capacity and start to develop safer communities.
This project shows the power of partnership working. How when organisations combine with different skill sets and resources they can achieve a positive end goal that helps communities in need.
If you or your organisation would like to donate to this project, please do so via our website or through Workington Rotary International (Cumbria)
