Children enjoyed a sensory trail with special lighting and bubble machines, an animal-themed treasure hunt, projected lights and images, and accessed a fire engine via a bespoke ramp.
Specialist Brigade training facilities were temporarily repurposed, with the tower lit different colours, the BA chamber lit up with UV pictures, and the garden transformed into a quiet sensory space.
Members of the Brigade’s cadets were on-hand to welcome visitors, as well as wellbeing dog Hugo with his handler Sarah, and firefighters offered guests hot chocolate and helped them to toast marshmallows.
In addition, the event raised money for Croydon SENDIASS, which is a free and impartial service for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their parents and carers, as well as for The Fire Fighter’s Charity.
Visitors shared feedback in a survey after the event, praising the behaviour of the colleagues who staffed the event as ‘welcoming’, ‘friendly’ and ‘engaging’, as well as the inclusive atmosphere.
“The event was perfect, thank you so much,” one parent wrote. “It’s not easy to find events specifically for disabled children, so this was a wonderful experience.”
The event was the second adapted event organised by Station Officer Daniel Foster of Croydon Fire Station’s Blue Watch and follows a weekend open day held in July.
Station Officer Foster wanted to offer adapted events after seeing how his daughter, who is autistic, struggled with the noise and crowds of busy fire station open days.
Fireworks displays are not typically accessible for people with SEND. Autistic people often struggle with the noise and crowds, while grassy surfaces are difficult to navigate with many wheelchairs.
“Our advice as a Brigade is that it’s safer for people to attend organised firework displays than to hold their own events, so we wanted to offer families in Croydon an adapted event that meets their needs,” Station Officer Foster said.
“The event went really well, and it was great to see so many members of our community able to visit their local fire station, meet the crew, and celebrate Bonfire Night safely and in a way that worked for their family.
“I’m really proud of how hard the watch worked, supported by colleagues from across the Brigade, and I hope we will be able to offer many more adapted open events across London.”
