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Life in the fire and rescue service comes with unique challenges – ones that don’t just affect those in uniform, but also their loved ones at home. The Fire Fighters Charity sees this first-hand through the experiences of fire and rescue service personnel and their partners, many of whom have sought support for the mental wellbeing impacts of relationship difficulties.
To better understand the impact of fire service life on relationships, the charity recently launched a nationwide survey in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University, Relate at Family Action, and Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service. The aim is to develop targeted resources to support individuals, partners, and fire and rescue services when needed most.
Here I answer some of the questions about this important work.
Can you tell us more about the survey and who helped shape it?
The survey is just the beginning of a broader research project. We aim to use the insights and experiences shared with us to raise awareness about the impact of relationship challenges within the sector. Our goal is to develop resources that support both partners and individuals, helping them thrive in their relationships.
Why, and how, did the collaboration with Relate, Norfolk FRS and Nottingham Trent University come about?
This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and we’ve been delighted to work with Relate at Family Action as, while we have deep and unique insight into the fire services community, Relate brings essential relationship expertise.
Nottingham Trent University is our academic collaborator, providing important academic and ethical review, while Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service has ensured our research remains rooted in the realities of fire service life.
Critically though, this project has been shaped by the voices of the people we support. Our Lived Experience Steering Group has guided and challenged us along the way and their input helps us highlight and normalise the challenges people face in their relationships due to the demands of fire service life.
Is there a clear need for this work in the UK’s fire and rescue services?
We all know that relationships can be tricky, but positive, meaningful relationships with those who matter most have a profound effect on our wellbeing. Our community has shared that the necessary structures and demands of fire service work can sometimes strain their relationships. Some have expressed feelings of loneliness, while others have shared their sense of guilt at needing to prioritise job demands over family responsibilities. This is often mentioned alongside the significant pride they have in their partner’s role.
In the first year of our 24/7 Crisis Line, nearly a third of callers (29%) cited relationship breakdown and family-related challenges as a primary concern. However, there is currently limited understanding of the true impact and how couples are working to ensure their relationships can thrive during and after service.
This research aims to gather people’s experiences to drive forward that understanding and use it to shape resources. For us, it’s about normalising that experience for people and providing them with the space and tools to build better relationships.
Why does this matter to fire and rescue services too?
This isn’t just an individual or relationship issue; it could impact on key fire and rescue service priorities too, including workplace stress, job satisfaction and retention. We know from research undertaken in Australia that 51% of volunteer firefighters cited work-family balance as a reason to leave. Indeed, some of our on-call service users have shared that they left the job they loved due to impact on work-home balance.
What do you hope to achieve, and how will this shape future wellbeing resources?
We aim to develop tailored resources for individuals and couples while also sharing our insights with fire and rescue services to promote sector-wide understanding.
Our research will help us explore how fire service life impacts relationships, how individuals manage these challenges, and what strategies support healthy relationships. By normalising these experiences, we can create tools that empower individuals and couples to strengthen their relationships.
We are profoundly grateful for the trust people have shown in us by sharing their personal experiences since this research launched. We are committed to ensuring that their voices and experiences drive meaningful support.
If you’re in a relationship, or have been in one, where at least one of you has worked in the fire and rescue service, particularly in an operational role, Fire Fighters Charity would love for you to take part in its anonymous Thriving Relationships Survey.
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