Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Training and Safety Centre

Twelve of us met at Bury Interchange and made the short journey by bus and foot to the Training and Safety Centre. The site is tucked away under an old railway bridge, and is the largest Fire-Fighter training facility in the UK.

The “visit that could save our lives” introduced us to the work of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and allowed us to experience their impressive immersive centre, which provoked our senses with the smell of smoke, the heat of fire and the sound of sirens putting us at the heart of the action.

We watched short films, listened to emergency calls and checked for hazards in a family living room and kitchen.

Here is a living room before and after a fire:

It was a very interesting, informative and enjoyable day.

More photos can be seen here.

Indian Airport Will Not Change Its “GAY” Code

Despite consternation from a member of India’s conservative Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the international airport code for Gaya International Airport is still very GAY.

Bhim Singh, a legislator in India’s upper parliamentary house Rajya Sabha, recently submitted a written inquiry to the government asking to change Gaya International Airport’s three-letter code from GAY.

“People consider the code socially and culturally offensive and uncomfortable,” Singh claimed in his inquiry, asking if the government had considered moving “to a more respectful and culturally appropriate code.”

In a written response issued 4 August, Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Murlidhar Mohol confirmed that the ministry had received similar requests in the past, but that there were no plans to change the code. Three-letter airport codes are not set by countries’ governments but are rather unique identifiers issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

IATA has conveyed that assigned three-letter codes are considered permanent and are altered only under exceptional circumstances, usually involving air safety concerns. In other words, Gaya International Airport won’t be getting less GAY any time soon.

(Other notably fun codes include Poços de Caldas Airport in Brazil, ignobly designated POO.)

FaithFULL Collective Callout

The Faith & Belief Forum, a national interfaith charity, are currently recruiting 25 individuals from a wide range of faith and belief backgrounds based in London, Birmingham and Manchester to join the LGBTQ+ FaithFULL Collective, dedicated to improving the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ people of faith.

Running from Autumn 2025 to Autumn 2026, Collective members will receive expert training, mentoring and skills building, then will work together to design and run social action projects in their local communities. 

More information is here.

Any questions, please email: sophie.mitchell@Faithbeliefforum.org

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