Willerby joins forces with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service to help keep homes safe

DONATION: Humberside Fire and Rescue Service getting spoke alarms from Willerby

By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor

Leading holiday home manufacturer Willerby is helping to keep local communities safe after donating over 1,300 smoke alarms to Humberside Fire and Rescue Service.

The donation was prompted after new guidance was introduced by the National Caravan Council (NCC), the body which regulates the caravan and holiday home industry, requiring holiday home manufacturers to install mains-powered smoke alarms instead of battery-operated alarms.

Following the introduction of the guidance, Hull-based Willerby had a surplus of battery smoke alarms which could no longer be used in the company’s holiday homes, but still had over eight years of battery life left.

The Willerby team saw this as an opportunity to give back to the local community while ensuring the alarms didn’t go to waste, by handing them over to the region’s fire service.

The smoke alarms will enable Humberside Fire and Rescue Service to extend its reach even further to those who are most vulnerable and at risk of having a fire in their home.

Distributed through Humberside Fire and Rescue Service’s prevention teams, as part of its ongoing work to reduce the risk of fire in the community, the alarms will support home fire safety visits, where residents receive tailored fire safety advice and, where appropriate, smoke alarms are fitted free of charge.

Working smoke alarms are one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect families, with people twice as likely to survive a fire at home if they have a functioning smoke alarm.

Some of the alarms are also expected to be used in partnership with Women’s Aid, a charity which provides frontline domestic abuse services, supporting women and children at the most challenging times of their lives.

Helen Capps, head of health, safety and environment at Willerby, said: “We’re delighted to see the smoke alarms being put to good use by the fire service and being given a second life after we were no longer able to use them.

“Fire safety is incredibly important and something we take very seriously in our holiday homes, so it’s fantastic to know these smoke alarms will contribute to keeping people safe in their own homes across our region.”

Sarah Wilkinson, head of prevention at Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are extremely grateful to Willerby for this generous donation. These smoke alarms will help us reach even more vulnerable residents across our communities, ensuring they have access to a vital piece of life-saving equipment.

“Smoke alarms provide an early warning of fire, giving people valuable time to escape and call for help. Through our Home Fire Safety Visits and partnership work with organisations including Women's Aid, these alarms will play an important role in helping to keep people safe in their homes.”

The donation is just one of the many ways Willerby contributes to the local community.

Throughout the year, Willerby has been raising money for its two charities of the year, Dove House Hospice and Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University, through a series of fundraising initiatives, including a staff and suppliers golf day, a parking initiative in partnership with rugby league club Hull KR, and much more.

The business also hosted an experience day for local primary school pupils in partnership with HEY Children’s University, helping to open their eyes to career opportunities on their doorstep.