introduction
header
introduction
Celebrating the people who keep the nation moving every day
Public-service workers and civil servants work tirelessly – and often without recognition – to support communities around the country. From teachers to paramedics, and from council workers to the armed forces, we’re proud to champion these extraordinary people and the importance of our vital public services. To commemorate Public Service Day 2022, we invited three pairs of former and present public-service workers and civil servants to share their inspirational stories.
video
spacer
Ways to support
Ways to support
Join us on social media
What do you especially appreciate about your nation’s public services? Join the conversation and share your stories with us, or mention someone who you feel has gone the extra mile.
Don’t forget to use #extraordinarypeople and #publicserviceday.
Download our toolkit
Get your business involved and show your support this Public Service Day. Our free toolkit includes suggested copy for your social media and website, along with creative assets to use across your channels.
Support a charity
From improving mental health and wellbeing services to providing grants for research, there are many charities tirelessly supporting key areas of our public services.
Below are just a few charities needing your support.
Write to your MP
Local MPs depend on their constituents to tell them about the important issues. This is a great place to start expressing how you think the government should be acknowledging our public-service workers.
stories
featured story
Marva and Adrian
Mother and son teachers
Adrian: Mum, you’ve worked in education for over 25 years now, but you didn’t think you’d ever get to be a teacher, did you?
Marva: When I was growing up in Barbados, teaching was my dream. We didn’t have dolls, so I would make little figures from the clay soil and pretend to teach them. But when we came to England in the Sixties, that dream went out of the window: it simply wasn’t possible for working-class children at that time. I just had to forget it. However, at 31, I got a place on a teaching course, and a grant that enabled me to look after you three kids. I had to work hard but, let me tell you, those four years were the best of my life.
Adrian: And how did it feel to see me follow in your footsteps?
Marva: I was really pleased – not because I wanted you to follow me, but because you’re also showing young BAME people what they can achieve. And, of course, you went on to teach at Brampton Manor, just around the corner from where you grew up...
Vicky and Wyn
Retired and current serving police officers
Vicky: I bet your first year as a PC has been a whirlwind. Are you enjoying it?
Wyn: It’s brilliant. Just going to work is exciting because anything could happen at any moment. You never know what call will come in next, and I love that unpredictability. Was it the same for you?
Vicky: It certainly was. In 30 years, no two days were ever the same. In my final week on the job, I went from administering CPR on a man who’d collapsed at a bus stop, to dealing with the devastation caused by Storm Eunice. I was in uniform for the whole of my career, and I had an absolute blast along the way, surrounded by incredible colleagues.
Rachael and Pierpaolo
Retired and current serving civil servants
Rachael: Public-sector fraud prevention is rarely in the limelight, and yet we’ve both made careers from it. Why does it matter to you?
Pierpaolo: I guess because it’s not just about bringing criminals to justice, or correcting a moral imbalance – it’s about making sure that money goes to the right place in order to make a difference in people’s lives. As you know, counter fraud is all about money, and my team recovers a huge amount. Every penny we recover goes back into schools and education providers, so the more we work, the more the children of the country benefit.
Rachael: Absolutely. And when you’re part of that process, it’s so rewarding isn’t it?
Pierpaolo: Even as an apprentice, I feel like I’m doing something valuable.