GREATER Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is celebrating after a member of staff won a top British-Asian award on Saturday evening (November 12) at the prestigious Eid Milan and Asian Dispora Achievers Awards. 

Yasmin Bukhari, Bridging Cultures Co-ordinator, won top prize in the 'uniformed' category for her work promoting fire safety messages amongst the hard-to-reach and vulnerable communities of Greater Manchester. 

The event, which was held at the Sheridan Suite in Manchester, witnessed hundreds of guests come together to celebrate the cream of British-Asian culture. 

Speaking after receiving her award, Yasmin - who lives in Didsbury said: "I was honoured to be nominated and to have won is simply fantastic. 

"My work is about raising awareness of fire safety in those communities that sometimes don't easily access services like the Fire Service, perhaps because of language or cultural issues. 

"It's about contacting those communities, forming links and building up trust. By doing this, we can then promote Home Fire Safety Assessments, risk checks and make sure that people are safe in their homes. 

"The same applies to those business communities that sometimes have difficulty accessing information on what is required of them in respect of fire safety regulations, perhaps as either landlords or employers. 

"I'm really pleased that this kind of work has been acknowledged like this. It was a wonderful evening." 

Councillor David Acton, Chair of Greater Manchester Fire Authority, said: "Yasmin's award and formal recognition in this way is something Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service should be proud of. 

"The work of our staff in trying to prevent and protect people from fires is ongoing and the year-on-year reduction in injuries and fatalities testament to its effectiveness. I offer Yasmin my wholehearted congratulations on her achievement." 

The Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West, Nazir Afzal OBE, who presented the award to Yasmin, said: "The work of uniformed staff in our emergency services should never be underestimated. 

"By educating and promoting safety messages to those communities that might otherwise not access them, I believe Yasmin has made a real difference to many people's lives and thoroughly deserves this recognition." 

To receive a free Home Fire Risk Assessment call 0800 555 815 or visit manchesterfire.gov.uk