Community Resilience Plan - Calling for Volunteers

The Parish Council is in the process of producing a ‘Community Resilience Plan’ to be used if an emergency affects our community.

Normally, emergencies are dealt with by the “blue light” emergency services and other key responders, who have well-rehearsed plans to deal with situations. However, there may be circumstances, such as widespread flooding, heavy snow or severe storm damage, where the arrival of the emergency services and other responders could be delayed, or when essential utilities and highways access may be compromised.

In these circumstances, the Members of the Parish Council are sure you will agree that it is important that our community can help itself until outside help arrives and it will do this more effectively if it has a plan already in place. As part of this plan, we are looking to set-up a ‘Community Emergency Response Team’ of volunteers who would be willing to assist should an emergency occur. We are particularly keen to hear from members of our community who have resources, equipment or skills (e.g., 4x4 vehicles, tractors, chain saws, trained medical staff), but any assistance you can offer would be gratefully received.

A crucial element of the plan will be to have a network of Community Liaison Volunteers covering the area, each being responsible for a road or other small area. The liaison volunteers’ role involves receiving information from, and passing it on to, residents/businesses in their “patch” – they would not be involved in rescues, but in communicating between the emergency plan coordinators and residents in the event of an emerge

If you would like to volunteer, please contact the Clerk to the Parish Council by e-mailing [email protected] who will you a Voklunteer Registration Form.

Additionally, one of the priorities of the Community Emergency Response Team will be to provide what support it can to members of our community who may be more vulnerable than others and who may need extra help in an emergency. With this in mind, we want to have a list of ‘Vulnerable Persons/Groups’ in our Community Resilience Plan. For your details to be included, please contact the Clerk to the Council by e-mailing [email protected] who will send a Vulnerable Persons/Group Registration Form. There is no need for you to disclose any sensitive personal information and please be assured that, in accordance with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) the information will be handled in the strictest confidence and will only be used in an emergency by the Community Emergency Response Team, the emergency services or other key responders.