Latest news with #King'sFireServiceMedal
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fire chief to step down as she takes on new role
A fire chief who battled her way out of homelessness as a teenager to become a distinguished firefighter and an adviser to the Prince of Wales is taking on a new role. West Sussex chief fire officer Sabrina Cohen-Hatton will step down from her current position later this year to become the new chief fire officer to lead Hampshire and Isle Of Wight Fire and Rescue Service. She will become the organisation's first female fire chief, replacing current officer Neil Odin. Ms Cohen-Hatton joined West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service in 2019, having previously worked with THE London Fire Brigade and Surrey Fire and Rescue. In 2023, she was awarded the King's Fire Service Medal for distinguished service and gallantry. Speaking of her appointment, Ms Cohen-Hatton said: 'I am truly honoured to have been appointed to lead Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and am incredibly excited to begin this new role to ensure that the Service continues to deliver for the residents of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. 'I would like to formally put on record my thanks to the service's current chief fire officer, Neil Odin, who I have been privileged to work alongside for many years. 'I know that his time leading the service will leave a lasting legacy that I will work with to ensure that residents in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are kept safe from the risk of fire and emergencies.' Read more: Brighton primary school's pool open for lessons this summer She added: 'I am incredibly proud of the time that I spent at West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, where I was equally as privileged to work with some incredible people as we worked together to deliver the service's improvement plan. 'It is with a heavy heart that I leave the service but know that I am leaving the service in safe hands and I take with me many fond memories and friendships. 'I am very much looking forward to working with all colleagues at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to uphold all of the fantastic work that all of its teams deliver each and every day to keep the residents living and working in its communities safe.' Ms Cohen-Hatton first developed an interest in the fire service when selling the Big Issue as a teenager. Read more: She had experienced a period of homelessness from the age of 15 and was inspired to help others when they were most at need. Ms Cohen-Hatton is now an ambassador for The Big Issue, as well as an advocate of Prince William's Homewards Foundation. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire Authority chairman Councillor Rhydian Vaughan MBE said: 'The role of chief fire officer is one of huge responsibility, and following our rigorous recruitment process, I am certain Sabrina is the right person to lead us forward.' 'I am very much looking forward to welcoming Sabrina when she formally joins us later this year. As a fire authority we look forward to working with her and to support her in being at the helm of this incredible organisation.'
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
First female chief announced for fire service
The chief fire officer (CFO) at West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service will leave her role to become the first female chief of a fire service in the neighbouring county. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton will join Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service as CFO later this year, after six years at the helm in West Sussex. "I am truly honoured and incredibly excited to begin this new role to ensure the service continues to deliver for the residents of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight," she said. Ms Cohen-Hatton has held many senior positions, including interim deputy CFO in Surrey, since first joining the service in South Wales. "I am incredibly proud of the time that I spent at West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, where I was equally as privileged to work with some incredible people as we worked together to deliver the Service's improvement plan," she said. "It is with a heavy heart that I leave the service, but know that I am leaving it in safe hands and I take with me many fond memories and friendships." Prior to joining the service in 2001 aged 18, Ms Cohen-Hatton was homeless for three years and would sell the Big Issue magazine. It was during her telling selling the magazine that she developed a curiosity to serve in the fire service, to help people when they needed it most. In her time working in the fire sector, Ms Cohen-Hatton has completed numerous secondments, including to the Welsh Government and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. She has also collected awards, including the King's Fire Service Medal for distinguished service and gallantry. Neil Odin, who is stepping down as CFO in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said: "Sabrina will bring a fresh outlook, strong leadership skills, and invaluable experience, ensuring the service continues to adapt, improve and thrive." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. From rough sleeping to advising Prince William Firefighter honoured by King for her work West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service Surrey Fire & Rescue Service
BBC News
28-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Fire chief leaves West Sussex for new role in Hampshire
The chief fire officer (CFO) at West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service will leave her role to become the first female chief of a fire service in the neighbouring Cohen-Hatton will join Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service as CFO later this year, after six years at the helm in West Sussex."I am truly honoured and incredibly excited to begin this new role to ensure the service continues to deliver for the residents of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight," she Cohen-Hatton has held many senior positions, including interim deputy CFO in Surrey, since first joining the service in South Wales. "I am incredibly proud of the time that I spent at West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, where I was equally as privileged to work with some incredible people as we worked together to deliver the Service's improvement plan," she said."It is with a heavy heart that I leave the service, but know that I am leaving it in safe hands and I take with me many fond memories and friendships."Prior to joining the service in 2001 aged 18, Ms Cohen-Hatton was homeless for three years and would sell the Big Issue was during her telling selling the magazine that she developed a curiosity to serve in the fire service, to help people when they needed it her time working in the fire sector, Ms Cohen-Hatton has completed numerous secondments, including to the Welsh Government and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue has also collected awards, including the King's Fire Service Medal for distinguished service and Odin, who is stepping down as CFO in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said: "Sabrina will bring a fresh outlook, strong leadership skills, and invaluable experience, ensuring the service continues to adapt, improve and thrive."
The Independent
04-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Firefighter who battled poverty and homelessness as a teenager honoured by King
A woman who battled her way out of homelessness as a teenager to become a distinguished firefighter and an adviser to the Prince of Wales has been honoured by the King. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, chief fire officer with West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, was awarded the King's Fire Service Medal during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. The medal is awarded for distinguished service or gallantry, and recognises Dr Cohen-Hatton's work at several key events including the Finsbury Park terror attack, the Westminster Bridge terror attack, and the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire. The 42-year-old is now advising William as part of his Homewards campaign to end homelessness in the UK, and featured in his recent ITV documentary, We Can End Homelessness. Speaking on Tuesday, Dr Cohen-Hatton told the PA news agency: 'The fire service means a huge amount to me because I feel like, as firefighters, we're trusted by people to know what to do when they're having the worst day of their lives. 'And, having gone through that and my service, being able now to advise Prince William as an advocate on Homewards, which is his programme aiming to demonstrate that it's possible to end homelessness, it's incredible. 'Because when you go through those experiences, they're awful. They're absolutely dreadful.' After the death of her father, her family sank into poverty, and she became homeless at the age of 15. When she was just 18, and after years of sleeping rough on the streets, she decided to join the fire service in South Wales, went on to attain a degree in behavioural neuroscience from Cardiff University, and became an honorary professor. Dr Cohen-Hatton, who also became an ambassador with homelessness charity The Big Issue and credits it with saving her life, said she hopes she can use her experience to 'change the narrative, so that people who are in my situation today don't have to go through that'. 'Homelessness is a really complex issue and the answer to it needs to be equally as multifaceted,' she said. Dr Cohen-Hatton also warned homelessness is becoming a bigger problem today. 'We're seeing more and more hidden homelessness as well – people staying on other people's sofas, people sleeping in their cars, not necessarily even registering themselves as experiencing homelessness – so it can be really difficult to understand the numbers. 'What we do know is that it's a problem that's growing. 'I honestly believe that the light that the Prince of Wales has been able to shine on this has been an incredible driver, helping us to raise awareness.' Dr Cohen-Hatton is also a psychologist and writer and an ambassador of Street Vet, which offers veterinary treatment to pets living with their owners on the street. Her first book, a memoir called Heat Of The Moment, was published in 2019, the year she was a guest on Desert Island Discs.
BBC News
04-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
West Sussex: Firefighter honoured by King for her work
A woman who faced homelessness as a teenager has been honoured by the King for her work as a Cohen-Hatton, chief fire officer with West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, was awarded the King's Fire Service Medal during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Cohen-Hatton became homeless aged 15, and is now advising Prince William as part of his Homewards campaign to end homelessness in the UK. Dr Cohen-Hatton said: "The fire service means a huge amount to me because I feel like, as firefighters, we're trusted by people to know what to do when they're having the worst day of their lives." The 42-year-old hopes she can use her experience of homelessness to "change the narrative". "Homelessness is a really complex issue and the answer to it needs to be equally as multifaceted," she Cohen-Hatton said homelessness was becoming a bigger problem."We're seeing more and more hidden homelessness as well - people staying on other people's sofas, people sleeping in their cars, not necessarily even registering themselves as experiencing homelessness - so it can be really difficult to understand the numbers," she said. The medal is awarded for distinguished service or gallantry, and recognises Dr Cohen-Hatton's work at several key events including the Finsbury Park terror attack, the Westminster Bridge terror attack, and the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower Cohen-Hatton joined the fire service in South Wales and got a degree in behavioural neuroscience from Cardiff University. Her first book, a memoir called Heat Of The Moment, was published in 2019, the year she was a guest on Desert Island Discs.
