Firestyle Magazine Issue 3 - Spring 2016 | Page 17

So, why should I join NARF?
(The National Association of Retired Fire Fighters) By Ian Ferguson (Editor of the NARF News)
That’s a good question and one
which I get asked quite a lot.
I guess in many respects it’s
down to the type of person
an individual is as to whether
someone joins the National
Association of Retired Fire
fighters (NARF). It all depends
on whether that individual is
someone who is a social person
and wants to stay a part of the
Fire Service family, or maybe
they think that it will benefit them
by being a member of NARF.
One question that may be
asked is “What’s in it for me by
being a member?”
There are many facets of being
a member of NARF, There’s the
social interaction of keeping in
touch with former colleagues
with regular branch meetings
and get togethers, but there are
also the support mechanisms
that retired members can turn
to and NARF can offer help or
guidance to members on a wide
range of issues from pensions
and benefits claims, to help
with arranging convalescence
or physiotherapy for either
themselves or a member of their
families at one of the Fire Fighters
Charity nationwide facilities.

Keeping members in touch and
abreast of developments with
both their Fire Service and State
pensions is an important part of
being a member as there are so
many changes and developments
taking place in both of those areas,
we feel it is vital that we keep up
to date with these important issues.
NARF has two seats on the PSPC
(Public Service Pensioners Council)
and our delegates attend regular
conferences from which they provide
information to branch officials, who
then cascade information that is
available to members.
NARF is the only dedicated national
voice for retired Fire fighters and
it is important that this voice is
maintained for all of our benefits.
There are two types of NARF
membership and people can chose
which type they would prefer.
There’s Branch membership, in
which a member is attached to the
Branch that is closest to where they
live or alternatively, there’s direct
membership, in which a member
for whatever reason isn’t attached
to a Branch, but will still receive
information, communications
and feedback from the Direct
Membership secretary.

National membership fees are currently
£5 per year for Branch membership
and £6 for Direct membership for
which you will receive all of the benefits
previously mentioned, plus you will
receive our quarterly magazine, NARF
NEWS which will be delivered to your
home address that is full of information,
stories and articles that are useful and
interesting to members.
If you’d like to join NARF, you can do so
by visiting the NARF website at www.
narfire.org.uk where you can fill in the
online application form and we’ll take
it from there. It’s so easy to do, so If
you’re retired from the Fire Service or
you ’re in your last year of service, you
are eligible to join and remember,
membership is open to anyone and
everyone who has ever worked in the
Fire Service in whatever role, uniformed,
non uniformed or support. We are all
part of that big Fire Service family and
hope you will consider joining NARF.
NARF has been fighting for the rights of
retired members since 1968, almost 50
years and with your help and support
we hope we can continue to do so.
Thank you for taking the time to read
this and if you require any further
information, please make contact
through our website at

www.narfire.org.uk

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