A SKIPTON firefighter has been named 'Firefighter Rising Star' in the national Women in the Fire Service Awards.

Arwen Bailey, an on-call firefighter, is described as an extremely valued member of the team at Skipton Fire Station.

The mother of two young children, who at 47 years old was one of the oldest to join the service, was nominated for contributions to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Described as 'extraordinary' and with a 'relentlessly positive attitude' by her colleagues, she was recognised for her determination to succeed and being an advocate and ambassador on gender equality and empowerment issues.

Arwen developed and ran a six-week programme for 13 to 15-year-old girls, including team-building exercises designed to build self-confidence, teamwork, and insights into traditionally male-dominated jobs.

She is also a voluntary violence against women and girls ambassador for the fire and rescue service.

“I’m so proud and grateful to win the award against such strong competition and am delighted that the support of my work with young women has been recognised," Arwen said.

"Working as an active firefighter in Skipton gives me a great deal of personal pride and satisfaction, and developing projects to show the young women and girls in our community that there’s a whole range of options open to them in the fire service is such a delight.

"As a more mature joiner to the service juggling parenting two young boys, it shows that anything is possible with enough resilience and determination."

She added: "I’m enormously grateful to the judging panel for recognising this and for all of my colleagues at Skipton Fire Station and the wider NYFRS team for all the encouragement and support, particularly group manager Peel and station manager Hughes.”

Arwens’s nominator Ben Williams, said: “Arwen is an extraordinary woman, and one of the oldest - at 47 - female joiners to our service.

"She has a relentlessly positive attitude, has thrived in her role as an active firefighter at one of the busiest retained stations in the county, and her views on encouraging young women to ignore gender stereotypes and investigate options in a once male-dominated world makes her something special.

“She’s known within the town as ‘that tattooed lady firefighter’, and takes great satisfaction and pride in her position within the community.

"I can’t think of a better person to ride next to me on the pump when we’re required to do something difficult and challenging.

"And I can’t think of anyone better suited to showing the wider community how welcome, effective and valuable women can be to the fire service, and none of the 21 of us at Skipton Fire Station would be without her.”

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer Jonathan Dyson, said: “We are extremely proud of Arwen. Her enthusiasm in using personal experience to support, develop and guide girls and young women to thrive and build confidence is fantastic.

“Arwen has made a hugely positive impact in her local community and across the service and we’re honoured Arwen is part of the North Yorkshire Fire Service team.”