What and who are the emergency services in the UK?
Emergency services in the UK cover personnel from the three main blue-light services. Police, fire, and ambulance are the main services and there are also a wide range of different supporting roles. These jobs include Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Ambulance Care Assistants, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), Firefighters, and Emergency Dispatchers. They work together to manage 999 calls and provide rapid on-scene medical care, safety, and rescue.
Key professional roles in the emergency services include the Ambulance Service Team and specific roles which include Paramedics (HCPC-registered), Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) or Associate Ambulance Practitioners (AAPs) and Emergency Care Assistants (ECAs).
There are also specialised clinical roles such as Emergency Care Practitioners and Specialist Paramedics who handle minor illnesses, injuries, and urgent community care.
Emergency Response Personnel also include Police Officers and Firefighters and within these organisations there are also a variety of specialised roles such as police and fire service dog handlers and forensic service officers. Operational Support roles include Emergency Medical Dispatchers and Call Handlers within the Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs).
How the emergency services engage with the public
In the UK emergency services actively work to inspire young people through a variety of dedicated youth engagement programmes and initiatives. These programmes aim to build confidence, teach valuable skills, and encourage young people to consider careers within the emergency and uniformed services.
Community serving organisations inspire young people with Dedicated Youth Programmes across the country. Organisations such as the London Fire Brigade, South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), and St John Ambulance run specific clubs and courses like Fire Cadets, NHS Cadets, and Volunteer Police Cadets. These offer children and teenagers hands-on experiences, opportunities to gain qualifications, and develop a better understanding of the work they do.
Initiatives like the Phoenix programme (run by the Tyne & Wear and Northumberland Fire & Rescue Services) focus on skills development and team building, practical skills (like first aid and CPR), and opportunities to experience leadership to help build young people’s confidence.
Emergency services partner with organisations like The Prince’s Trust to deliver pre-employment programmes that create career pathways. Education programmes educate young people on the values and attributes needed for emergency service roles. These courses can assist participants to transition into jobs. The youth programmes help to communicate clearly how the roles are more accessible than people think. An additional benefit is how advanced qualifications are not usually required to be able to join the emergency services in what can be (or become in a reasonable time frame) a fully paid role.
Emergency services frequently participate in community events and school visits to showcase their work, aiming to inspire the next generation of personnel. The public generally has high confidence in emergency service staff, who are seen as dedicated heroes by many. This positive image and the visible hard work of frontline staff serve as an inspiration for young people to pursue similar community focused careers.
Some programmes are targeted interventions for disadvantaged and more vulnerable young people, such as the London Fire Brigade’s (LFB) Juvenile Firesetters Intervention Scheme, which provides support and positive direction for children and young people under 18 who show an unhealthy interest in fire or engage in fire setting behaviour. (5)
Other counties in the United Kingdom that provide a similar youth education courses that teach fire prevention include Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, Avon Fire and Rescue Service, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (FACE/SAFE) and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Celebrating and promoting the emergency services in Sussex
On Sunday 28th August 2025 the city of Chichester in West Sussex held their first Emergency Services and Community Day. (1)
South East Coast Ambulance Service, Sussex Police, HM Coastguard, West Sussex County Council, Chichester District Council, and Chichester City Council worked in partnership with West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service to deliver the successful event which was held in support of the Fire Fighters Charity. (1)
Hundreds of people visited the free event in Oaklands Park to see live demonstrations and enjoy the promotional and educational activities presented by the local emergency service teams led by West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.
Highlights of the day included watching a helicopter from Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance land. There was also a rather unusual demonstration of a road traffic collision involving a bank robber and an alien!
There were also various musical and family entertainments and there are more stands that are planned for this summer too. Community leaders were pleased to achieve their aim of informing and inspiring children and young people to consider joining their local community emergency services in the future.
This year the successful Emergency Services and Community Day event will be held again on Sunday August 2nd 2026 in Oaklands Park in Chichester, West Sussex.
Celebrating and promoting the emergency services in Hampshire
On Saturday 6th September 2025 Port Solent marina near Portsmouth in Hampshire held a 999 Family fun Day Event. Residents and visitors were able to explore and interact with an impressive lineup of emergency vehicles, both iconic and modern. It was a pleasure for many people of all ages to meet the many emergency service professionals who gave their time to talk to the public about what they do and learn about life saving skills. (8)
There were dozens of stands and vehicles on show and participants could freely wander around and engage with the emergency service representatives in attendance. There was branded charity merchandise to buy and younger children enjoyed having their faces painted. Learning how to use a defibrillator (which is a medical device that delivers a high-energy electric shock to the heart of someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest) was an example of how the opportunity to teach and inspire young people was included in the day. (8)
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance were present and the Ministry of Defence police were also happy to share information about their role in keeping the area safe. It was great fun to climb aboard the police and fire service vehicles and admire the vintage commercial automobiles too.
The dog handlers were delighting fair attendees with their wonderful K9s and explaining how they live with their pets that they care for and train very carefully. The dog handlers shared what it is like to look after their pets that also serve as important working animals within the police and fire services. A great atmosphere on a fortunately warm and sunny day meant a very good day out was had by all. (8)
Celebrating and promoting the emergency services in Yorkshire
In West Yorkshire a programme named ‘ReAction’ has been introduced by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) and funded by Leeds City Council and the Violence Reduction Partnership.
The ReAction Programme has been declared a ‘remarkable’ intervention by Claire Wright, Youth Interventions Manager at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) equipping young people with essential life skills while inspiring positive change. (2)
By engaging a group of local children who are under 10 years old and providing individual mentoring, small group work, and practical sessions, ReAction provides early intervention to support young people and encourage positive life choices.
The practical and educational activities undertaken at Stanningley Fire Station promote the ‘making of safer choices’ by the young people attending the ten-week course as well as building confidence, resilience and fire safety awareness. (2) (5)
National Health Service Cadets is a youth volunteering programme run by the St. John Ambulance service and also partners with The Princes Trust to promote young people joining the healthcare industry and the Ambulance service. (3)
The NHS Cadets are aged between 14 and 18 and this free club initiative is aimed at engaging with students from communities and groups who are underrepresented and may face barriers to accessing volunteering opportunities.
Leaders from NHS Cadets organisations such as Rachael Hardcastle-Pearce, Senior Patient Experience and Engagement Lead, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust described how they are “…very happy with the assistance from the youth volunteers and the positive attitudes they bring to their services.” (3)
The NHS Cadets learn valuable life skills such as first aid and make a difference in their communities by assisting the trained healthcare providers.
Inspiring people to support the emergency services at 999 Day events this summer 2026 around the UK
On the 2nd May 2026 there is another 999 Day event planned in Eastleigh town centre near Southampton in Hampshire, from 10am until 4pm. The community event promises “an amazing free day out for the whole family, with police cars, fire engines, and ambulances, enjoy emergency services displays, meet the heroes, and plenty of fun for kids.” (9)
Eastbourne in East Sussex is promoting and celebrating the emergency services on Western Lawns, King Edwards Parade with a two-day event with arena displays in the 999 Weekend on the 30th and 31st May 2026 between 10:30ama and 5pm. (7)
Emergency Services Day is celebrated each year in September in the UK. This year 999 Day is on Wednesday 9th September 2026. It is celebrated nationally and supported by HM The King, HRH The Prince of Wales, the Prime Minister and First Ministers of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. (4)
999 Day promotes the work of the emergency services, promotes using the emergency services responsibly, educates the public about basic lifesaving skills, and promotes the many career and volunteering opportunities available.
The special annual event day was founded by police officer Tom Scholes-Fogg. The event also celebrates volunteers and the official 999 Day website describes how “Volunteers are also an essential part of the emergency services family and they play a core part in keeping Britain safe. 999 volunteer roles include; Special Constables, Retained Firefighters, NHS Community Responders, St John Ambulance, RNLI, Search and Rescue and Coastguard volunteers.”
King Charles III encourages the public to continue late mother’s legacy of service and announces Queen Elizabeth II Community Trust.
This week King Charles III marked what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday with a personal video message encouraging the public to continue the late Queen’s legacy of service, duty and community. In his address from Balmoral, the King encouraged people to honour the Queen’s memory by “striving together towards a ‘better, happier tomorrow’, one rooted in peace, justice, prosperity and security”.
The King asked people of all ages to follow her example of “duty and service” and announced that a new nationwide memorial scheme, the “Queen Elizabeth Community Trust” would support local community projects that bring people together. (6)
It is significant to have leadership from the royal family who as a family and institution closely support the Armed Forces and the Emergency Services, as well as the 999 Day events. It helps to influence young people who are considering what kind of life and career choices they wish to make, as they strive to gain their first experiences of work and look towards becoming adult citizens of the United Kingdom contributing positively to their communities and society.
Overall, the emergency services make a concerted effort to engage with and inspire the United Kingdom’s youth, providing pathways for personal growth and future careers in public service.
(1) ‘Chichester’s Emergency Services and Community Day is a huge success’ West Sussex County Council website, 28th August 2025 ‘Chichester’s Emergency Services and Community Day is a huge success’ West Sussex County Council
(2) ‘Empowering Young People Through our Youth Interventions “ReAction” Programme’ West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, 31st Jan 2025 ‘Empowering Young People Through our Youth Interventions “ReAction” Programme’ West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
(3) ‘NHS Cadets youth volunteering programme’ National Health Service website, 20 April 2026 ‘NHS Cadets youth volunteering programme’ National Health Service
(4) Official 999 Day website, 20th April 2026 Official 999 Day 2026 website
(5) Juvenile Firesetters Intervention Scheme, Emily Rodgers, Children and Young People Now online newspaper, 2 January 2018 Juvenile Firesetters Intervention Scheme, Emily Rodgers, Children and Young People Now
(6) ‘The King’s message to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Queen Elizabeth II’ King Charles III, Official Royal website: Royal.UK, 20 April 2026 ‘The King’s message to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Queen Elizabeth II’ King Charles III, Royal
(7) 999 Weekend Eastbourne, Visit Eastbourne, official Eastbourne Visitor Information website, 24th April 2026 999 Weekend 2026 Eastbourne, Visit Eastbourne
Location is: Western Lawns, King Edwards Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4EH Event date is: 30th and 31st May 2026
(8) 999 Family Fun Day – 6th September 2025 999 Family Fun Day – 6th September 2025
(9) Port Solent Car Meet Facebook group promotes 999 Day 2026 in Eastleigh town centre, Hampshire. Post by Jason White, 7 February 2026 Port Solent Car Meet Facebook group promotes 999 Day 2026 in Eastleigh