Latest news with #FRSA
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Thousands of retained firefighters owed pension payments, union says
More than 10,000 former retained firefighters across the UK are missing out on pension payments, according to a payments, which became available following recent legal rulings, could be worth anything from several thousand to more than £100, Fire and Rescue Services Association (FRSA) has urged anyone who might qualify to contact their old employers to ask if they are eligible and to get help about how to or on-call, firefighters are usually based in more rural locations and answer emergency calls alongside working a normal job. They never used to get a pension. However, two legal rulings in the past few years have changed that, meaning they are now entitled to anyone who served as a retained firefighter between two dates connected to those rulings - April 2000 and April 2006 - could qualify, and not just for a pension covering those six years, but for their entire must "buy back" (pay for) the pension contributions they would have made toward any pension scheme, but that bill can be taken off any final payment they're much money that is depends on factors such as the amount of time served, how busy their fire station was and what rank they attained. 'Great bonus to the household' Peter Duncombe spent 35 years serving as a retained firefighter in Buckinghamshire and qualified for a lump sum of about £10,000 plus ongoing monthly payments of around £180."This extra pension... is a great bonus toward the household," he said."Especially with the current issues with the cost of living increases, fuel rises and electricity going up. It's just excellent really. "The lump sum, which was a great bonus, we're actually going to use some of that for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday... and the remainder will go back into the kitty for maybe another holiday in another year." So far the FRSA estimates about 16,000 people have come forward to make a of them have received lump sum payments of tens of thousands of pounds, plus monthly payments going the union estimates at least 10,000 more are eligible but haven't yet put in a urging them to contact their former employer to find out how to put in a claim or message the union via its website to get help and advice.A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said: "It's essential our firefighters get the pensions they have earned as quickly as possible."Fire and rescue authorities are responsible for the administration of the pensions, and the government is supporting them to address issues raised by firefighters."A Local Government Association spokesperson said: "Some individuals have service that goes back as far as the 1960s and Fire and Rescue Authorities have been working tirelessly in trying to trace some individuals, to ensure that they do not miss out on this opportunity." After serving as a retained firefighter for nearly 30 years in Devon and Cornwall Paul Jarvis qualified for a lump sum payment of around £30,000 and ongoing monthly payments of nearly £200."This lump sum payment will improve my expectations and will mean that I can afford to retire nearly straightaway," he said."Then, going forward, it will boost my state pension... as well as giving me an extra monthly payment which, in these times, is a very, very useful payment."A spokesperson for the National Fire Chiefs Council, which represents fire and rescue service, said on-call firefighters play a "critical role" in the UK's emergency response and strongly encouraged anyone who thinks they may be eligible for payments to contact their pensions administrator.
Int'l Business Times
18-07-2025
- General
- Int'l Business Times
Where Fine Art Meets Strategy: Inside Cyrice Griffith's World of Luxury Chess Design
Cyrice Griffith, FRSA never intended to become a chessboard artist. But the moment her nine-year-old son came home one day in 2010 and asked to teach her how to play chess, something profound shifted. In the middle of a divorce and seeking moments of clarity and connection, Griffith found herself immersed in a quiet, strategic space where conversation, bonding, and introspection flourished. Chess became a lifeline, a language, and eventually, a canvas. Cyrice Griffith, FRSA "I was obsessed at that time," she recalls. "There was no TV, no distractions, just us, playing, talking about life. It was not about winning. It was about being present with my son." That experience sparked something bigger. When Christmas rolled around and nothing on the market felt special enough, she decided to make him a chess set herself. She spent over a month scouring antique markets and salvage yards to find the right pieces. On Christmas morning, her son stared at the finished board and said, "Mom, did you make that? You could sell these." He was right. And with that, Griffith began what would become a singular creative journey. Today, as the founder of Griffith Chess Designs , Cyrice Griffith, a master of assemblage art, is crafting a world where chess intersects with architecture, design, and story. Each of her sets is wholly unique, composed of reclaimed materials, everything from discarded car parts to antique furniture elements. "I love giving things a second life," she says. "Reclaiming cast-offs, finding architecture in the ordinary, that's the magic." A lifelong creative and program development expert, Griffith spent years designing transformative programs for major institutions. But this new pursuit offered her a different form of impact. Her chess sets are not mass-produced or 3D-printed. They are sculptural compositions. "These are not products," she emphasizes. "They are narratives, every piece has a past, a personality. These sets are metaphors for community and strategy and design." Antique Ottoman by Cyrice Griffith, FRSA John Dlugolecki Griffith's process is deeply instinctive. While the pawns are often chosen last, her design begins when she finds a "king" or "queen", a piece that carries weight, power, or elegance. Once that anchor is found, the rest of the set begins to form organically. Sometimes she works on three or four sets at once, letting the inspiration of a single material, glass, crystal, or metal, guide the creative arc of each board. Her boards, too, are handcrafted, often featuring hand-etched glass patterns and custom-designed bases. "The board is not just the playing surface," she explains. "It's a piece of furniture. It's a stage. It has to hold the same weight as the pieces themselves." And in many cases, Griffith even restores or builds the base structures herself, learning welding and new techniques along the way. "Every set is an opportunity to push myself," she adds. Griffith's influences run deep, as her father was an architect and city planner. Her affinity for architecture is not just nostalgic; it's fundamental to her aesthetic. "I see every chessboard as a cityscape. The skyline of the pieces, their proportions, it all reminds me of built environments." It's also about education and legacy. Through her past work introducing underserved youth to architecture and design, Griffith understands the transformative power of access. "Everything we touch is design. Everything we walk into is architecture," she says. "Helping young people see that gives them agency. Making these chess sets is my way of honoring design and teaching through metaphor." Her pieces have not gone unnoticed. Her creations won a prestigious International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Sustainability Award , a recognition that reinforces her values around repurposing and sustainability. And when asked if she has favorites, Griffith mentions "Antique Ottoman," one of her first sets, and "Suspended Elegance," a sold piece made of crystal and filigree. "I say my pieces find their owners," she states. "Some pieces I make, and I know exactly who they are meant for when they come." Suspended Elegance by Cyrice Griffith, FRSA Osceola Refetoff Griffith's ultimate goal is not simply sales, it's resonance. She wants to reach potential individuals who appreciate fine art and singular craftsmanship. "You don't need to be a chess player," she says. "But you do need to understand the value of design and story. My clients are art lovers, collectors, people who see meaning in material." In an era of replication and instant production, Cyrice Griffith is defiantly analog. Every inconsistency in her etching, every curve of a refurbished table leg, every salvaged hardware piece tells a story. And together, those stories make something greater than the sum of their parts. But more importantly, those stories become new stories, stories that are shared from generation to generation as heirlooms and prized possessions. "Each set is a tribute to design, to reinvention, to the idea that beauty can be built from what others overlook."
South Wales Argus
05-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Liza Collins on the meaning of relational leadership in NHS
It was inspiring, but many were left wondering: what does that actually mean in practice, especially on a busy NHS ward or in an overstretched community team? Relational leadership is more than a buzzword. It's a mindset and a practice, one that might just hold the key to a healthier future for our NHS teams. At its heart, relational leadership is about how we show up in relationships at work. Not as titles, hierarchies or roles, but as people. It asks us to move beyond command-and-control styles and towards connection, curiosity and care. To lead with both clarity and compassion. To listen more. To build trust and rebuild it when it's broken. That may sound idealistic, but the evidence tells us otherwise. Teams thrive when people feel safe to speak up. They perform better, innovate more and recover faster from setbacks. This is what psychological safety looks like: an environment where you can share ideas or admit mistakes without fear. But here's the catch: it does not happen by accident. It is created, moment by moment, through how we treat one another. A good relational leader is not always the loudest or most confident voice in the room. They are often the most consistent. They notice the tone. They welcome feedback. They understand that a difficult conversation handled well is a form of leadership. They recognise that it takes time to build trust, and only a moment to lose it. When leadership is too harsh, trust is lost. When it's too absent, people flounder. Relational leadership strikes the balance, with clear boundaries and human connection. In the NHS, we already understand relational care. We know the difference a kind word or a thoughtful gesture makes. The challenge now is to extend that same humanity into how we lead. Because the truth is, we do not change workplace culture by policy alone. We change it through everyday relationships. So, if we want a thriving NHS for the future, we must ask: what kind of leaders, and teammates, are we choosing to be? Liza Collins, MA, FRSA NHS Culture Strategist and Future of Healthcare Executive Leadership Coach
South Wales Argus
06-06-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
NHS patient care starts with caring for colleagues
That is why we need to talk honestly about something that doesn't often make the headlines: culture. Behind every decision, diagnosis, or delay, there are human beings, both patients and staff, doing their best in a system under strain. But when the workplace culture is poor, fearful, rushed, dismissive, that strain becomes something more dangerous. It becomes unsafe. Maria's Movement is a stark example. In the final chapter of her life, Maria didn't receive the care she needed. Her family's concerns were brushed aside. Consultants assumed they knew best. And the staff around her, though well-intentioned, were afraid to speak up or challenge decisions. It wasn't a lack of skill or kindness. It was the culture. Culture isn't a buzzword. It is the invisible thread that shapes how people behave when the pressure is on. It's whether staff feel safe to speak up. Whether people are listened to. Whether the patient and their family feel like they matter. And when that thread unravels, care suffers. When NHS staff feel respected, supported and able to raise concerns, patients get better care. When staff are burnt out, fearful, or ignored, the risk of harm rises, and so does the heartbreak. I began my NHS career more than 30 years ago in South Wales. I wasn't clinical, I worked in admin, but even then, there was an unspoken standard: you care for every patient like they are a member of your family. You felt it in the way teams treated each other, in the pride they took in their work. That spirit shaped everything. Today, we need to bring that spirit back not just through posters or pledges, but by changing the conditions staff work in. That means creating real psychological safety. Listening with humility. And treating staff wellbeing as essential to patient safety, not an optional extra. When we care better for our staff, staff care better for our patients. It really is that simple. We're living through a time of huge change in the NHS. But no matter how much the system evolves, one thing must stay the same: people deserve to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect on both sides of the bed. The culture of our healthcare system isn't a background issue. It is the care. And when we get that right, we all feel the difference. Liza Collins, MA, FRSA, is Future of Healthcare Executive Leadership Coach and NHS Leadership Academy Executive Coach.
Zawya
04-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Taranis Capital secures DFSA licence
Dubai, UAE: Taranis Capital Ltd, an ethical, fintech-focused investment company, has secured a licence from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent regulator of financial services within Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). This milestone significantly strengthens the firm's ability to expand its operations and deliver innovative financial solutions with confidence and integrity. At the same time, the firm welcomes Dr Bijna Kotak Dasani MBE, FRSA as Chief Investment Officer (CIO), strengthening its leadership as it expands its financial services under robust regulatory oversight. Obtaining the DFSA licence follows an intensive 18-month regulatory process, reflecting Taranis Capital's commitment to governance, compliance and operational excellence. The licence reinforces the firm's position within DIFC, enabling it to broaden its financial services while maintaining the highest regulatory standards. 'Securing our DFSA licence is a huge step forward for Taranis Capital,' said Nicholas Bingham, founding partner and CEO of Taranis Capital. 'It's been an intense process, but one that highlights our dedication to doing things the right way. This achievement gives us a strong foundation to grow, innovate and continue delivering exceptional financial solutions for our clients.' 'We are proud to be operating under the DFSA's robust regulatory framework, which reinforces trust in our business and enables us to serve our clients with the highest standards of governance and transparency.' Alongside this regulatory achievement, Taranis Capital Ltd is delighted to welcome Dr Bijna Kotak Dasani MBE, FRSA as Chief Investment Officer. A highly respected leader in global financial services, Dr Dasani brings 25 years of experience across investment banking, venture capital and entrepreneurship. She has held senior roles at some of Wall Street's leading firms, advised monarchies and serves on multiple global venture capital investment committees. An alumna of the University of Oxford and De Montfort University, Dr Dasani also holds venture capital certifications from UC Berkeley Law, Venture Forward, NVCA, and Newton. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA) and has received numerous industry accolades. Her achievements include being named among Fortune India's Most Dynamic Personalities (2022), Fox Story India's Woman Face of the Year (2023), and one of Yahoo Finance's Top 100 Women Executives globally. In 2020, she was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty, The Late Queen Elizabeth II. She is also a published author, contributing to books on leadership, finance and innovation. Speaking about her new role, Dr Dasani said: "I am honoured to join Taranis Capital Ltd at such a pivotal moment. The firm's commitment to regulatory excellence, innovation and client-centric solutions aligns perfectly with my passion for driving impactful financial strategies. I look forward to contributing to Taranis Capital's growth and long-term success." With this leadership appointment and licence, Taranis Capital Ltd is well-placed to strengthen its presence in DIFC and expand its offering of innovative financial solutions. For media enquiries, please contact Nicholas Bingham Taranis Capital Ltd nicholas@ Nigel Sillitoe CEO, Insight Discovery Email: sillitoe@ About Taranis Capital Ltd Taranis Capital Ltd is a financial services firm based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), specialising on investing in fintechs with excellent ethical governance. With a strong focus on regulatory compliance and client-centric solutions, the firm is committed to delivering excellence in the financial sector. About the DFSA The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) is the independent regulator of financial services conducted in or from the DIFC. It upholds international best practices to foster a transparent, secure, and well-regulated financial environment.
