From RAF Firefighting to Fire Safety Training: 1st Aid Fire Partners with Pembroke House in Powerful Family and Service Connection

For Darren Young, founder of 1st Aid Fire, a visit to see his father turned into a full-circle moment of service, legacy, and opportunity.

While visiting his father, Arnold Young—a former RAF Fire-Fighter of 12 years—at Pembroke House in Gillingham, Darren wore his branded “Fire Safety Advisor” hoodie, never expecting it to spark a conversation that would lead to a meaningful professional relationship.

Darren, himself a 16-year veteran RAF Fire-Fighter, now runs 1st Aid Fire, delivering expert Fire Risk Assessments and Fire Safety Training across the South East. When Pembroke House manager Zoe Oakley noticed his hoodie and asked about his role, it quickly became clear that his expertise could benefit the home. Soon after, Darren was commissioned to deliver Fire Marshal Training for 12 of the care home’s dedicated staff.

Pembroke House, operated by the Royal Naval Benevolent Fund (RNBF), provides exceptional residential care for veterans from all branches of the UK Armed Forces—not just the Navy. Their inclusive ethos and deep respect for service are evident not only in their care of residents, but in their investment in staff development, safety, and wellbeing.

“It’s incredibly fitting,” Darren says. “My father served as a Fire-Fighter, I followed that path through the RAF, and now I’m serving Pembroke House—where his story continues—in a new way. That’s more than a job. That’s a legacy.”

The collaboration is expanding beyond the Gillingham location. Pembroke House has now invited 1st Aid Fire to deliver a comprehensive Fire Risk Assessment and training program for staff at their Head Office in Portsmouth, ensuring consistent safety standards across their sites.

Zoe Oakley added, “At Pembroke House, we are committed not only to offering exceptional care to our residents, but to empowering our staff through quality training and risk management. Darren brings both professional insight and personal passion, which makes this partnership all the more meaningful.”

As a proud member of the Approved Business group, Darren believes this story highlights the often-overlooked power of workwear branding and community engagement. “I wasn’t there to pitch—I was there as a son. But that small detail—my hoodie—opened the door. And now I get to give back to a place that’s become part of my family’s life.”