Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has entered into a partnership with Tricuro, to reach more vulnerable people with potentially life-saving fire safety advice.

Andy Woods, the Service’s Safe & Well Team Leader for Partnerships, said: “The social care landscape is changing, and a greater percentage of the population is now aged over 65, and more likely to be in receipt of some form of health and social care. As such, they can be at greater risk of serious injury or death from fire – and our own experience is that people living alone with care support can be extremely vulnerable to the dangers of fire.”

Tricuro initially approached the Service to see how the two organisations could work together more closely. As a result of these discussions, training was provided to around 80 senior managers at Tricuro, from 40 different sites, delivered via MS Teams across two days. This training enables Tricuro staff to spot the signs, hazards and risk factors associated with fire, and provides a clear referral pathway for them to request Safe & Well support from the Service.

Marc House said: “I am really pleased that Tricuro has agreed to work together with us to help and support vulnerable people in our communities. Tricuro is an established organisation providing support to individuals across the BCP and Dorset areas, and it shares our values of helping people to live safer, healthier, and more independent lives. My thanks go to Andy Woods, Graham Wilkin, and Tricuro’s locality leads Julie Thorne and Helen Spencer, as their commitment and enthusiasm is fantastic to see. I have no doubt that this partnership will be successful, and I look forward to building on this over the coming months and years.”

Graham Wilkin, from Tricuro, said: “We are delighted to work in partnership with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service in order that this essential training is cascaded to all our employees and Tricuro services. This knowledge base and skill development will ultimately play a vital role in keeping the people we support across our communities safe and well.”

More information about the Safe & Well scheme run by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/safe-and-well-visits