Communities Prepared is a national community resilience programme run by the charity Groundwork, with partners including the Environment Agency. Through training and tailored support, the programme equips Community Emergency Volunteer (CEV) and Flood Warden groups nationwide with the knowledge and confidence to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a range of emergencies, from flooding and severe weather incidents to pandemics. Alongside this, the organisation offer train the trainer packages for local and national organisations – including community rail partnerships and station groups – providing information and resources to empower their staff and volunteers and support the wider community.

With backing from The National Lottery Reaching Communities England Fund until October 2021, and additional support from the Prince’s Countryside Fund and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), the programme provides community volunteers with free training and support, tailored to local needs and priorities, supplemented by an online community resilience hub. In doing so, they are supporting the development of multi-role volunteer groups that have the confidence and skills to manage a range of emergencies.

Communities Prepared specialist training is ideal for volunteer groups, giving them the tools to:

• Build greater confidence to take the lead in their community
• Feel better informed and able to respond to emergencies
• Develop and implement community emergency plansand strategies
• Feel better connected to community groups and local partners

Click here to register with Communities Prepared to access free training and resources.