Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is consulting the public on four proposed objectives that will help guide the way it provides its services to communities across the county and best support its staff.
The four proposed Equality Objectives outline ways in which RBFRS aims to provide a more accessible service, retain talent and create new opportunities within the fire and rescue sector.
Speaking on the consultation, Wayne Bowcock, Chief Fire Officer, said: “We’re reaching out to communities across the county to better understand their needs and how we can best keep them safe.
“Berkshire is a diverse county with communities that have vastly different needs. We understand that what works for residents in a high-rise in Bracknell may not for a rural community in Lambourn. Therefore, we want to give everyone the opportunity to have their say on how their fire and rescue service operates.
“This consultation gives residents across all communities the opportunity to feedback on how to make the service even more accessible and how to look after our staff even better, with an ultimate aim to keeping all of our communities safe.”
From Monday, 8 December 2025, to Monday, 16 February 2026, the Service will be asking residents, businesses and community groups to have their say on the newly proposed objectives set out by RBFRS.
The Proposed Objectives
As part of the consultation, RBFRS is proposing to adopt the following four Equality Objectives over the next four years:
- Equitable Access – Using risk-based analysis and robust evidence, the Service will ensure its Prevention, Protection and Response activities are targeted where they are needed most, particularly for communities who face higher risks or barriers.
- Employer of Choice – The Service will actively promote itself as an employer of choice and will seek to attract and retain a workforce that reflects the community of Berkshire.
- Belonging at Work – RBFRS will cultivate a workplace culture where every individual feels a strong sense of belonging by embedding inclusive behaviours into everyday interactions.#
- Inclusive by Design - RBFRS will continue to embed inclusion into the planning, design and delivery of its services in order to proactively reduce barriers across our communications, processes and premises.
The Service is setting the objectives to ensure that it can provide a more focussed, accessible and effective service to all communities across Berkshire in line with its statutory requirements.
The objectives also place a great emphasis on supporting and valuing staff and how RBFRS can best retain its talent, with a view to creating more opportunities for people within the Service.
You can read more about each the objectives in greater depth and have your say by visiting the Consultation Hub on the Service’s website.