Firefighters are the Pride of Scotland

By Tony Grew • June 20, 2007 - 17:59

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue is a keen participant in the Diversity Champions Scotland programme.

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Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue service, are going all out at the Pride Scotia event in Edinburgh, this Saturday, 23 June.

The service are a key Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champion, promoting fair treatment in the workplace for LGB staff.

As well setting up a recruitment stand at the festival, which takes place in Pilrig Park, firefighters from local Macdonald Road Fire Station will be carrying out dramatic car accident rescue demonstrations.

Staff will also join in the Pride march with fire engine in tow.

Promotional 'fire hats' and public information leaflets on fire safety will be in plentiful supply.

At last year's Pride Scotia in Glasgow nine firemen from Strathclyde Fire and Rescue refusing to carry out their jobs.

The Cowcaddens fire-fighters had been asked to hand out leaflets at the rally in a publicity exercise but refused on moral grounds.

Fire chiefs in Strathclyde decided all nine would receive diversity training.

The officers' later admitted that they should have performed their duties at the festival, and received written warnings for their actions.

Their colleagues in Edinburgh are keen participants in the Diversity Champions Scotland programme, a leading good practice forum run by Stonewall Scotland.

The Lothian and Borders service has also held several recruitment evenings in the LGBT Health and Wellbeing Centre in the last couple of years, as well as launching a high profile recruitment advertising campaign, targeting members of the LGBT communities in Edinburgh specifically.

Ross Wynn, Manager in the Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Equal Opportunities team, said:

"We're delighted to have such a strong presence at Pride Scotia this year. It's important we make sure our services are accessible to all, and that our workforce is as representative as possible of the diverse and varied society that we live in."

The Pride Scotia march starts 1 pm outside the new Council building on East Market Street, Edinburgh, and the festival in Pilrig Park starts at 2.30 pm.

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