Halloween: Fire Safety

Halloween offers a fun opportunity for both children and adults to dress up in fancy dress

costumes. Whether you buy your costume and decorations or get creative and make your own, it's important to keep yourself safe. Keep in mind these tips to ensure your Halloween isn't scary for all the wrong reasons.

Costume Safety:

1. Choose flame-resistant materials Many Halloween costumes are made from synthetic fabrics that can ignite quickly. You should be looking out for a UKCA or CE marking and the manufacturer’s name which will mean that the outfits meet safety standards.

2. Avoid long trailing fabrics Where possible avoid capes, skirts, and sleeves that drag on the ground that can easily brush against candles, or open flames.

3. Be cautious with homemade costumes Be mindful of the materials you use when making your own costumes. If you are going to be around candles or open flames, avoid flammable items like cotton wool, tissue paper, or plastic bags.

Halloween Decorations and Open Flames

1. Use battery-operated candles

Instead of traditional candles in pumpkins or lanterns, go for LED alternatives. They’re safer, reusable, and just as spooky!

2. Keep decorations away from heat sources

Ensure that hanging decorations, cobwebs, and paper props are kept well away from heaters, radiators, and candles.

3. Check smoke alarms

If you're hosting a party at home, make sure your smoke alarms are working properly. It’s a simple check that could save lives.

Stay in charge: Caring for your Lithium Ion Batteries

Lithium ion batteries can be found in many devices used for work and around the home including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, fitness watches and power tools.

They allow for fast, portable recharging and are a staple of modern life. However there are some health and safety risks that we need to be mindful of when using lithium ion batteries.

The biggest risks with this type of battery is fire. In the UK, fire services are now tackling at least three lithium battery fires a day. This type of fire behaves differently from a combustion fire and can spread very quickly, burn at an extremely high temperature and can release toxic gases.

Fire caused by Li-ion batteries can also be very difficult to extinguish. When used and stored normally, Lithium-ion batteries are safe and stable. However, issues can arise when they are incorrectly stored, damaged, misused or not suitably charged.  

How to make sure you are using Li-ion batteries safely:

Only use the charger you got with the device.

Do not use cheap chargers that do not carry a CE mark or have been modified. You can find the mark on your chargers.

Never leave batteries charging overnight or unattended and always unplug them once charging is complete.

Avoid charging devices in bedrooms, hallways or near soft furnishings; instead, opt for kitchens or garages equipped with working smoke detectors

Check for signs of damage before use. If the battery appears swollen or emits a strong odour, then the device should be removed from the building immediately. Do not try to use or fix the battery. Report it to your support provider.

Ensure Li-ion batteries are safely disposed of at appropriate specialist waste centres

Remember, if you think there is something wrong with your devices when they are charging. Please speak to your support provider.

Deeds Not Words: 5 Years on

It's been five years since the launch of Deeds Not Words Pledge. Our action alongside the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan (ARWAP) 2030 progressed the recruitment, partnerships, governance and awareness of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at FCHA and across our partner organisations.

Despite the clear achievements, systemic racism continues to affect diverse communities across the country. Inequities in housing access, career progression, and lived experiences persist—impacting staff, tenants, and communities alike, as highlighted in Tai Pawb’s recent sector survey.

We remain committed to anti-racist action at FCHA. We, alongside many others are continuing to progress, amplify calls for justice, and ensure communities remain connected and empowered.

The pledge

1. Stand against racism and harmful narratives

We will create safe environments for staff, tenants and communities, through:

· Enforcing zero-tolerance policies and practices with trusted, safe reporting systems for racism and hate incidents.

· Preventing and challenging scapegoating of migrant communities with facts, human stories, community and staff engagement, education or other relevant approaches.

· Regularly training and educating board, colleagues and (if relevant) tenants on anti-racism, unconscious bias and any other relevant topics

2. Tackle racial disparities in housing conditions

We will work to ensure fair and equitable housing conditions for ethnic minority communities, through:

• Actively identifying and, where present, tackle racial disparities in any relevant areas, such as overcrowding, damp, mould, repairs, maintenance or homelessness ensuring prompt response to issues (stock holding organisations)

  
  

• Using our voice and influence to highlight and/or address racial disparities in any relevant areas such as overcrowding, damp, mould repairs, maintenance or homelessness (all organisations)

3. Advance fair representation and champion career progression

We will remove barriers for ethnic minority colleagues and open pathways to management and leadership, through:

• Applying inclusive and targeted approaches in recruitment to achieve change in hiring and reflect community diversity including positive action where possible

  
  

• Offering mentoring, sponsorship or other career development opportunities and pathways tailored to support progression and pipelines to management and leadership roles.

• Support and Equip HR teams with the knowledge to navigate immigration rules fairly and effectively, helping to remove barriers to employment for migrants.

4. Use data and engagement to drive racial equity and diversity

We will improve how we use data and engage with communities to inform anti-racist action, through:

• Closing data gaps and tracking ethnicity data across:

  • recruitment and all employee levels to ensure fair representation and progression (including preparing for ethnicity pay gap requirements)

  • housing conditions, repairs and maintenance (where relevant)

  • anti-racist, bias and other relevant training data

• Engaging, removing communication barriers and centering the lived experience and leadership of people affected by racism to shape service design and delivery

Our Shared Commitment

We recognise that dismantling racism requires more than strategy—it requires courage, honesty, and sustained commitment.

In the face of increasing resistance to EDI, our pledge is more than symbolic—it is a deliberate act of solidarity and accountability.

As signatories to Deeds Not Words 2.0, we commit to:

• Reporting transparently on our actions and progress each year.

• Applying top level oversight and scrutiny of our anti-racist commitments at board/committee level

• Defending and advance anti-racist work across the sector, even in a hostile climate.

• Collaborate across the housing sector to ensure every person in Wales can access a safe, decent and dignified home—free from racism.

Together, we commit to real change — not just in policy, but in people’s lived experiences.

To sign Up to this pledge: Please email me your name/organisation and signature:

E.g.

Donna Webb – Director of Corporate Services & Housing – FCHA