North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is celebrating after landing the highest possible accolade in recognition of its 'outstanding' commitment to corporate social responsibility and social engagement.

The Service has achieved the Corporate Health Standard Platinum seal of approval, having previously won the Gold Award for health and well-being in the workplace.

The Corporate Health Standard is a Healthy Working Wales programme and is a national mark of quality awarded at Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels. The Platinum level is reserved for exemplar employers demonstrating business excellence and taking full account of their corporate social responsibility.

Chief Fire OfficerSimon Smithsaid: "Walesis leading the way in theUKwith this standard and I am extremely proud that North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is one of only two organisations to have been awarded with the coveted Platinum standard inNorth Wales.

"The application for a Platinum level award requires that we outline an area of best practice that has gone beyond legislation and demonstrates a commitment, outside the normal activities of the organisation.

"We focused on Rhyl Community Fire Station as an example of where we exceed our core business goals in the area of community engagement. Open for the community to use as a venue for meetings, the fire station at Rhyl has welcomed over 50,000 visitors between 2008 and 2012 with a whole variety of local groups now using the facilities regularly. And we invited representatives from local community groups to meet the Corporate Health Standard assessors to discuss their individual experiences of using Rhyl Community Fire Station.

"Our activities in key areas developed by the Sustainable Development Commission, transport, capital build, facilities management, community engagement, employment and skills, were described as 'outstanding' by assessors during the final stage of the application when they spent the day examining our evidence, taking a tour of the Community Fire Station and viewing a demonstration involving the Environmental Protection Unit.  Young people from thePhoenixProject also showcased how we contribute to redirecting them towards worthwhile activities, promoting integration with their peers and the community.

"As a result, the assessors recommended that North Wales Fire and Rescue Service now mentors other organisations wishing to develop across the range of areas covered by the award - and we are absolutely delighted that professionals from across our Service work as a team to contribute to protecting the environment, whilst nurturing our staff and communities.''

Ann Jones AM Vale of Clwyd commented: "I was delighted to hear of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service's success and they thoroughly deserve the award. I am aware of the effort they put into community engagement and the achievements of the Phoenix Project are far reaching and life changing for many young people. The Service takes corporate social responsibility very seriously and are to be congratulated for their fantastic achievement."