Black & Ethnic Minority Members

Hi all – please allow me to introduce myself and the B&EMM Executive Committee. My name is Michael Nicholas and I am the full time B&EMM Executive Council Member in the FBU. It is the first time we have had representation at the highest level of our union and I was elected in April 2002. Prior to my election, I had held many other roles within the FBU, but the progression of B&EMM has always been my priority. The B&EMM Exec, including myself, is:

Samantha Samuels – B&EMM National Secretary. Sam attended her first B&EMM School in 1997 and was a firefighter in the West Mids Fire Service. She was elected as National Chair in Sept 2004 and before that she was the B&EMM rep for Region 7. She was then elected as the National Secretary in August 2007 and is proudly the first black woman official in the FBU and works on our behalf full time.

Leroy Phillpotts – B&EMM National Chair. Leroy attended the first ever B& EMM School and has been involved ever since! He is the B&EMM Rep for Region 13 and was the B&EMM Vice Chair for 3 years before he was elected as the National Chair in the summer of 2008. Leroy has also been an FBU rep in many roles over the years. We find it hard to believe that we ever needed to have a section for black/minority ethnic members but the reality is that, there is still much to do. The 21st century Fire and Rescue Service still lags behind other public institutions on equality, fairness, recruitment and representation throughout the service. The Government have recently launched an Equality & Diversity Strategy for the fire service and we will have a great responsibility to make sure it is implemented. On your behalf we intend to help move things forward on all those issues.

The Annual B&EMM School is a must if you want to find out more about us and meet other BME people in the Fire and Rescue Service. It is the best attended educational event in the FBU calendar and takes place on the 2 nd weekend in October. Please look out for details as they are sent to B&EMM home addresses.

Most importantly, we hope that our members are aware that there is a support network for them within the service – a service that can sometimes leave them feeling isolated. Please remember, you are never alone – we made sure of that! Get in touch?

B&EMM Mission Statement

To continue to be a progressive group within the UK Fire and Rescue Service, our communities, its under-represented ethnic minority members and their union. To also be a focal point for advice and support on dealing with issues of discrimination, harassment and debarment as they affect Black and Ethnic Minority Members of the UK Fire and Rescue Service.

Our Commitments:

• To offer help, support and to encourage networking by our members.
• To assist Fire and Rescue Services in ensuring that their BME recruitment, retention and progression strategies recognise the diversity in the communities they serve, and actively seek to reflect the very best of those communities.
• To advise and assist the FBU in educating its members in order to recognise, appreciate and respect cultural differences thus eradicating the effects of racial/cultural prejudice in the workplace and the community.
• To take full advantage of learning opportunities and to offer career guidance and influence in the creation and maintenance of supportive working environments.