Firefighters learn about Asian community

Date published: 12/01/2007

Rochdale firefighters have been taking lessons in Cultural Awareness to help them work more effectively with members of the Asian communities they serve.

The lessons have been provided free of charge by a prominent and well respected local community leader, Ghulam Shahzad. 

Ghulam, who works for Rochdale Council Training Unit and is a local magistrate, has been providing the cultural training each Saturday afternoon in his own time, training every Watch on every station in the Rochdale Borough. 

Borough Commander Dave Astley said:  "Ghulam has provided an invaluable service to us and his talks have been very well received.  They often overrun the time we have allocated for the training because the firefighters are really interested in what they are learning and ask lots of questions".

"We are very grateful to Ghulam and as a mark of our gratitude the County Fire Officer and Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Fire amp; Rescue Service, Barry Dixon, will be presenting him with a Certificate of Appreciation."

The training covers useful words and phrases, the history behind why these communities came to live in Rochdale, how to meet and greet people, naming systems and problems firefighters might encounter and how to overcome them.

Mr Astley continued:  "Because of the training, firefighters now have more confidence in dealing with members of these communities and will be even more professional in their approach."