On-Call Improvement Programme recognised for reversing long-term decline across Rural Wales

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) has been honoured with the Project of the Year Award at the Excellence in Fire and Emergency Awards 2025, recognising the transformative impact of its On-Call Improvement Programme (OCIP).

The awards ceremony, held at the Institution of Civil Engineers at Parliament Square in London, brought together leaders and frontline personnel from across the UK to celebrate innovation and outstanding achievement within Fire and Emergency Services.

Turning around a long-term challenge

MAWWFRS’s OCIP was established in 2023 to address a sustained decline in On-Call firefighter availability — an issue of particular importance in rural areas such as Pembrokeshire, where many communities rely entirely on On-Call stations. Around 75% of MAWWFRS fire stations are staffed exclusively by On-Call crews.

Before the OCIP was launched, availability had dropped from 95% to 83% over seven years. Nationally, the number of On-Call firefighters has fallen by 25% since 2004.

The programme introduced targeted recruitment and retention strategies, improved training opportunities, and invested in evidence-led systems to strengthen resilience across the service.

As a result, MAWWFRS has already recorded a 3% increase in On-Call availability, beating the projected downward trend and standing out as one of the few services in the UK showing improvement.

Group Manager Phil Morris, who has led the programme since its creation, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that the OCIP has been named Project of the Year. This award reflects the hard work and commitment of everyone involved. We set out to make a difference for our On-Call Firefighters and the communities they serve — and we have gone some way to achieving this. It is further proof that the On-Call duty system remains valid, provided it is properly supported.”

National recognition

In the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) National On-Call Research Study published in September 2025, MAWWFRS was the only UK service to be featured twice as a case study, highlighting the scale of the improvements made.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Craig Flannery, Senior Responsible Officer for the programme, said the award reflected the service’s determination to solve a long-standing problem:

“This recognises our efforts to address the perennial challenge of On-Call availability and resilience. Using contemporary research to drive improvements has shown a real return. One size does not fit all, and I’m proud of the creativity and innovation shown across our area.”

A key innovation has been the introduction of new software enabling officers to identify skills and availability gaps, shaping recruitment and training decisions to help keep engines “on the run”.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Chair of the NFCC’s Strategic On-Call Forum, Steve Healey KFSM, praised MAWWFRS for bucking a national trend:

“Fire and rescue services across the UK are facing increasing challenges in recruiting and retaining On-Call Firefighters. The progress MAWWFRS has made through its OCIP is promising and will help inform national work to strengthen and future-proof the On-Call system.”

Call for new recruits

The service is using the award as an opportunity to encourage more people across Mid and West Wales to consider joining as On-Call Firefighters.

On-Call crews respond to a wide range of emergencies including fires, road traffic collisions, flooding, chemical incidents and animal rescues. They also deliver vital community safety work such as Safe and Well checks in local homes.

MAWWFRS says the role is “exciting, fulfilling and unpredictable” — and offers a unique chance to make a real difference in one’s own community.

If you’d like this adapted further with Pembrokeshire-specific references (Haverfordwest, Tenby, Pembroke Dock crews etc.), just tell me.

Cris Tomos welcomes rise in council settlement and extra NHS money

FOLLOWING the Labour Welsh Government’s draft budget announcement, Plaid Cymru says it has secured a “significantly better deal” for Wales — including more money for Pembrokeshire County Council and the NHS.

Cris Tomos, Plaid Cymru’s Senedd candidate for Pembrokeshire, has welcomed the uplift in the local government settlement for Pembrokeshire from 2.3% to “over 4%”, alongside an improved funding package for Welsh health services.

The original Labour draft budget left councils facing major shortfalls that could have resulted in steep council tax rises, further public-sector job losses and one of the lowest NHS settlements in recent years.

Plaid Cymru said it intervened with two clear priorities: protecting frontline public services and preventing “unaffordable” council tax increases, and correcting what it described as an “inadequate” rollover NHS settlement. By agreeing to abstain on the budget in exchange for strengthened health and council allocations, the party says it has secured meaningful improvements for communities across Wales.

Cris Tomos said the revised figures will make a real difference locally.

“This increase in settlement for Pembrokeshire Council brings a little relief to the council’s tight budgets and to local taxpayers,” he said. “The Welsh Government had initially proposed a 2.3% settlement for Pembrokeshire County Council. Thanks to this deal brokered by Plaid Cymru, the settlement will now rise to over 4%.

“The additional funding for the NHS — 3.6%, up from the proposed 2.1% — will also help our stretched health services here in the west.

“If Plaid Cymru can deliver this in opposition, imagine what we can achieve leading the next Welsh Government in May — real change and new leadership that puts the people of Wales first.”

DYFED-POWYS POLICE have issued reassurance to the community after Ysgol Bro Myrddin in Carmarthen was placed into a precautionary lockdown on Wednesday afternoon following threats against a pupil. 

A17-year-old male from Carmarthenshire has been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill and remains in police custody. 

A police spokesman said: “Following inquiries relating to an incident of threats against a pupil at Ysgol Bro Myrddin, Carmarthen on Wednesday afternoon (Dec 10), which led to a lockdown at the school, a 17-year-old male from Carmarthenshire has been arrested on suspicion of threats to kill. He is detained in police custody.

“The school will be open as normal tomorrow, but there will be a precautionary police presence to provide reassurance and support to pupils and staff.”