Rescue Robin reporting for duty this Christmas

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has launched its 2023 Christmas campaign, focusing on home safety with a little help from a familiar feathered friend…

After last year’s debut of the hugely popular Robin to the Rescue story book and video, little Robin undertakes even more heroic deeds this Christmas.

The original story follows Robin realising his dream of becoming a Cheshire firefighter. Now a much-loved member of the crew, Robin’s mission is to prevent fires and other emergencies caused by:

• candles
• becoming distracted while cooking and leaving items on hobs
• loneliness and isolation
• overloaded sockets
• electrical appliances and safe charging of devices

Over the coming weeks he will be ‘tweeting’ a series of rhymes on these themes through the Service’s social media channels, together with messages about the importance of testing smoke alarms and having a fire escape plan.

Area Manager Steve McCormick, Head of Prevention and Protection, explained:

“Robin proved to be a real hit with people young and old last Christmas, so we’ve brought him back into service to help us communicate messages about the most common causes of fires and other emergencies during the festive season.

“It’s all too easy to forget the basics of home safety when we’re relaxing with friends and family over Christmas and New Year. Our Robin to the Rescue campaign is a light-hearted way of reminding everyone how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”

Printed copies of the Robin to the Rescue story book will be given out to children from local primary schools and nurseries by firefighters, safety advocates and at the Service’s Safety Central education centre in the coming weeks.

It can also be downloaded from the Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service website, where there is also an animated Robin video narrated by Chief Fire Officer Alex Waller.

Steve added:

“We would love to see people enjoying the story book and video and encourage them to tag us in photos and videos.”

You can do so on:

• X - @CheshireFire
• Facebook - @CheshireFRS
• Instagram - @CheshireFRS

Robin to the Rescue has been created, written and produced by the Service’s Communications and Engagement Team.

The campaign was shortlisted in the 2023 Prolific North Awards and helped earn the team a silver award for In-house Public Relations Team of the Year in the Chartered Institute of Public Relations North West Pride Awards last week.