Thread by @NW4x4R

THREAD
-the following is a rewrite of my personal “observations” and thoughts around @BP_UK @BP_plc announcement. These are my PERSONAL ramblings and do not necessarily reflect official thoughts of NW4X4Response, @4x4response UK or any other groups mentioned- 1/10

https://twitter.com/bp_uk/status/1240623130357510145

Free fuel for emergency services...this applies to Fleet vehicles feeling up with BP accepted fuel cards,through Govt Procurement.
This will allow stretched services to save budget&put towards staff overtime and extra shifts.There’s no such thing as “extra” police/paramedics 2/10

This doesn’t help Emergency Service staff in any way, it saves the government from paying fuel bill for a few weeks. As it stands, it’s a good sound bite and a PR strategy... “BP give free fuel to 999 services”. Wonderful, what could be better? 3/10

Free/heavily discounted fuel for Nurses, Police, Paramedics to get to work and home would be more helpful, not not as good as a headline though, but greatly appreciated by the overworked, tired and stressed First Responders and Hospital staff. 4/10

I’m not even suggesting this for my own fuel tank. How about offering fuel to the hundreds of #volunteers who have stepped up to help their communities by delivering food and meds to the elderly and those self-isolating who can’t for whatever reason use online shopping. 5/10

Community Resilience groups, local councils, @BritishRedCross will be organising hundreds of individual #volunteers to help during #covid19UK all of whom will be using their own cars and paying for their own fuel, insurance, maintenance... it all comes out of THEIR pocket 6/10

BP have offered free fuel for govt departments... this does nothing for staff. At least @McDonaldsUK and @BurgerKingUK are offering free drinks for Emergency Services staff. We all know the NHS runs on cups of tea and good will! 7/10

If @BP_plc @BP_UK really want to help out... please contact the volunteer groups who pay for their own fuel, out of their own pocket and send fuel cards out. Fuelling Police cars is a PR move, and doesn’t help Emergency Workers. There are others who need it much more 8/10

Organised volunteer groups such as @MountainResqUK @LowlandRescue @MRSearchDogsEng @MCA_media @Bloodbikesmcr @SERV_Bloodbikes have to fundraise to pay their fuel bills... @4x4response groups and others pay out of their own pockets... with #COVID19 we can’t fundraise! 9/10

Please don’t think I’m suggesting 999 don’t DESERVE your help... but there’s a bigger picture. 999 fuel is paid by govt, #volunteers fundraise or pay out of their own pockets
VOLUNTEERS NEED YOUR HELP MORE!!!
Bobby NW018, NW4X4Response volunteer and Twitter guru 10/10

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