Communities Prepared launches first of its kind national digital resource
Groundwork South are leading a nationwide community resilience programme in partnership with the Environment Agency, Cornwall Community Flood Forum and Cornwall College Business. With backing from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Reaching Communities programme until October 2021, and additional support from The Prince’s Countryside Fund, the programme equips communities across the country with the knowledge and tools to effectively and confidently prepare for, respond to, and recover from, severe weather emergencies.
The new online resilience hub, launching at the Emergency Services Show on September 18th at the NEC, Birmingham, is the first of its kind national digital resource. Developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders and partner organisations, the hub is available for free to anyone who signs up as a member through a simple online registration process. Offering a variety of resources and interactive tools designed to equip and empower community emergency volunteer groups across the country, it seeks to develop a joined-up network of volunteers championing community action – a national priority in the context of climate emergency.
www.communitiesprepared.org.uk
It builds on a successful Lottery funded pilot phase which ran from 2016 to 2018, supporting 300 volunteers from 30 communities in South West England. Adaptable training modules on incident management, flooding, snow and utilities failure are available as free downloads, along with example flood and emergency action plans and resources to support the longer-term sustainability of groups, including volunteer recruitment and fundraising. Interactive features, including an online members’ forum and a map of community resilience activity nationwide will help to facilitate discussions between groups and the sharing of knowledge and best practice.
The training was extremely helpful. It instilled in everybody who attended how serious the matter was for their own personal protection as well as the people who were being helped. Our volunteers feel empowered that they’d be able to go out and respond.
Megan Hart, Brixham Community Emergency Response Team Coordinator, Devon.
The hub is just one of the key features of the Communities Prepared programme, which also offers in-person training, advice and support for community emergency volunteer groups across the country.
Visit communitiesprepared.org.uk for more information and to explore the full range of support available. Sign-up to the newsletter and keep up-to-date with the latest programme news and updates.
Connect with Communities Prepared:
Twitter: @CommunitiesPrep
Facebook: CommunitiesPrepared
LinkedIn: communities-prepared
Communities Prepared is equipping community groups across the country with the knowledge, skills and confidence to prepare for, respond to and recover from, flooding, snow, storms and other emergencies.
The project is launching a new training and resource hub for community resilience groups throughout England. The online hub will provide a range of downloadable and adaptable resources, a members’ forum, and specialist advice and support on a range of topics including developing community emergency / flood plans, undertaking risk assessments, communications and fundraising. It will also offer an interactive geo-mapping facility, which will enable the emergency services to monitor the readiness and status of the volunteer groups in their area.
For more information, please contact Programme Manager Hannah Baker
hannah.baker@groundwork.org.uk – 07702532710
