BLFRS join Luton in Harmony Campaign

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BLFRS has signed up to support the Luton in Harmony Campaign, launched In January.

Luton in Harmony aims to build a positive reputation for the town by celebrating its diversity and promoting understanding within all its communities.

By signing the pledge and wearing the badge firefighters, service managers and Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller, are supporting the campaign aims of learning more about people from different backgrounds and their values.

Luton in Harmony has been born out of the recognition that there are currently many challenges to cohesion in Luton - but that the town's diversity has long been one of its greatest strengths, and that remains the case today.

A recent report bears this out. The Community Safety Survey, in June 2009, showed that 82% of people believe Luton is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together. This survey was carried out at a time when the town was experiencing a number of challenges, and represents an overwhelming vote of confidence in Luton's diversity from the people that live here.

Luton has been the focus of many negative media stories during 2009. Over the course of 2010, Luton in Harmony will draw more attention to the many positive aspects of the town and its people.

BLFRS Area Commander for Luton and South Bedfordshire Dave Fothergill said :

"Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service is very supportive of this campaign and we are fully signed up to promote and celebrate the diversity and unity of our communities, and to help build a positive reputation for our town alongside all our partners.

"All our communities are important to us and making friends with people from different backgrounds, learning about their values and understanding their own beliefs in a spirit of peace and harmony can only help us in successfully delivering our safety messages to the whole community."