In the news

On 8 September HRH The Duke of Cambridge convened the first meeting of the Emergency Responder Senior Leader Board.

The Emergency Responder Senior Leader Board is the first of its kind, bringing together leaders from across all of the UK’s emergency services on the issue of mental health. It will promote collaborative working across the nation’s emergency services to ensure that all emergency responders receive the mental health support they need.

Attendees at the meeting included:

• The Duke of Cambridge
• Professor Nicola Fear
• Martin Hewitt, Chair, The National Police Chiefs Council
• Roy Wilsher, Chair, The National Fire Chiefs Council
• Daren Mochrie, Chair, The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives
• Gill Scott-Moore, CEO, Police Care UK
• Dr Jill Tolfrey, CEO, The Fire Fighters Charity
• Karl Demian, CEO, The Ambulance Staff Charity
• Mike France, SEO, Mountain Rescue England and Wales
• Paul Farmer, CEO, Mind

Speaking yesterday at the Police College in Belfast to staff taking part in the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Wellbeing Volunteer Training course, The Duke said “Yesterday, I convened a meeting of senior leaders including the heads of emergency services and their respective charities from across the UK. I was encouraged and heartened about their desire for tangible and lasting change – with new and better collaboration and training.”

Following the meeting, Mike France of MREW said: “I am delighted to have joined the Emergency Responder Senior Leader Board with The Duke of Cambridge, our Patron. We’re looking forward to working together to make sure that all emergency responders are able to receive the best mental health support possible.”