Sam Horton is Watch Manager with Humberside Fire & Rescue, and thanks to the FBU and its Union Learning Fund (ULF) project, he has been building up his skills and becoming a more effective firefighter.

Sam has been in the Fire Service for 17 years, being an FBU member for that duration, and he has benefitted from the learning opportunities that the union offers. Same said:

The FBU learning program has benefitted me both professionally and personally.”

I have completed four level 2 courses to date and I have found each one has been extremely beneficial making me a more effective firefighter when on duty and made more understanding of the differences between everybody when off duty.”

The courses Sam has completed include:

• Level 2 in Equality & Diversity.
• Level 2 in Mental Health Awareness.
• Level 2 in Learning Difficulties with children.

Sam has made use of the learning chances from the union for some time, completing the Level 2 in Equality & Diversity in 2013, around the time he was a newly promoted Crew Manager. Sam explained that:

This course developed my knowledge & understanding in what I believe is a key area of supervisory management, I feel this course has helped me ensure that I manage staff effectively and fairly and has given me a greater ability to integrate with the diverse communities that we serve within Humberside Fire & Rescue.”

In 2014 Same completed the Level 2 in Mental Health Awareness and have found this particular course to be the most valuable course provided to him by the FBU, helping him understand issues that had become a personal issue.

Sam explained:

In 2014 my wife also was diagnosed with anxiety and depression and I would say that prior to this course I had a very poor and unsupportive knowledge of the subject matter.” “Completing this course not only developed me as a person but more importantly as a friend and family member, I am comfortable discussing a persons issues and listening in a supportive manner. It has also taught me the importance of monitoring my own mental health in what can be a very stressful occupation.”

The Level 2 in Learning Difficulties with children helped Sam support his community, and the voluntary work he carries out. Same said:

As a firefighter voluntary work in the community is of extreme importance to me, as a result of this I coach football to a junior football team and we are now in our 5th season.”

Where this course has helped is that it has increased my understanding of difficulties that may affect a child’s ability to learn and ultimately enjoy a hobby, what I may of previously seen as misbehavior or ignoring instructions, I now have more patience for and look at different methods to achieve learning outcomes. Also a huge part of HFRS communities are the children we teach Fire Safety messages to, this course has improved my skills in this area.”

Sam is very keen to encourage others to take up the learning opportunities provided by the union.

Sam said:

I always make my staff aware of the learning available to them through the FBU, I feel they offer some very relevant subjects to our role. A massive part of a firefighters role In todays society is emotional intelligence that needs to be applied to a variety of situations.”

Not only professionally I also feel the FBU courses offer a deeper understanding of many things we encounter in our everyday lives. I feel this understanding can only lead to healthier and happier firefighters nationwide.”