London firefighters feel the burn with Joe Wicks, The Body Coach

London Fire Brigade employees recently flexed their fitness credentials with Joe Wicks, The Body Coach, as part of his workplace workout tour.

Around 60 firefighters, Control Officers and support staff spent Valentine’s Day with Joe Wicks at Paddington Fire Station, working out and discussing the importance of good mental and physical wellbeing.

Station Officer Kelly-Ann Marchant, who organised the event, said: "As members of London Fire Brigade, maintaining our mental health and physical fitness is essential given the demand of our roles.

“This event was an amazing opportunity for staff to come together and focus on overall wellbeing. It felt incredibly uplifting, and it was such a positive experience to be a part of.

“Joe was really engaging and supportive throughout the workout and it was fantastic to hear him share his expertise with us.”

Joe Wicks, The Body Coach, said: "I absolutely loved visiting the Paddington Fire Station. The energy was amazing and everyone was so engaged.

“It was probably one of the fitness groups I've ever trained with. I hope I left the team feeling inspired and motivated to prioritise their physical and mental health."

The Brigade’s fitness team also attended the event and shared their expertise with participants. The team regularly offer tailored sessions to all staff on staying fit and healthy and conduct fitness testing for firefighters. They also host a weekly functional restoration program which helps members of staff who are returning to work from injury.

Fitness Advisors also provide pre- and post-natal support and advice to members of staff experiencing symptoms of menopause.

As part of the Brigade’s mental wellbeing offering, the Counselling and Trauma Service provides confidential support 24/7 on a wide range of personal and work-related issues.

In addition,

• More than 130 staff have been trained as post-incident and support staff practitioners, with the aim of making contact within 24 hours of a traumatic incident or where support is required.
• More than 1,000 managers in the Brigade have received training on how to support their teams with stress, anxiety, and depression.
• More than 400 Mental Health First Aiders have been trained, equipping staff with the skills to support colleagues who need to talk.
• Online training from the Zero Suicide Alliance is available to all staff. This training comes in the form of a video which aims to provide skills and confidence to help someone who may be considering suicide.
• The Brigade have also been collaborating with Samaritans on a suicide postvention toolkit.