By Isle of Wight Observer
Volunteers from across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight were celebrated for their dedication at a special recognition evening, hosted by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service (HIWFRS) on Tuesday.
Held during Volunteers’ Week at HIWFRS headquarters in Eastleigh, the event brought together volunteers, their families, and fire service colleagues, for an evening of thanks and shared stories. Many of those recognised support communities on the Isle of Wight, including volunteers who deliver Home Fire Safety Visits to vulnerable residents.
Community volunteers, Deb Dargue and Tracey Van Leeuween, who regularly visit Island households, spoke about the impact of their work. “On many occasions we visit people who haven’t seen anyone for days or even weeks,” they said. “We love being able to help people and enable them to feel safe in their own homes for as long as possible.”
Island success was also highlighted through the Fire Cadet programme. Lee Parrotte, a Volunteer Fire Cadet Instructor, from the Sandown unit, received this year’s Kevin Morrison Fire Cadet Instructor of the Year award. “It’s truly unexpected and a huge honour,” he said. “For me, it has always been about contributing to help young people and supporting the local community.”
HIWFRS chief executive, Ruth Adams, praised all volunteers for their commitment, saying their contribution “makes a real difference to local people and strengthens the communities we serve”.
The HIWFRS volunteer programme is now in its 17th year, with around 100 volunteers giving more than 6,000 hours of support over the past year.
