Volunteers in Resilient Communities

For those in communities vulnerable to extreme weather, this marks the start of an unsettling few months. And, with the rapid onset of climate change, many more communities in Scotland are now at risk from extreme weather events. As I write this blog, we are witnessing a devastating reminder of the impact of extreme weather with the catastrophic floods in the south of Spain.

The Scottish Government have acknowledged the higher likelihood of potentially damaging weather events with a shift in policy focus. The draft Flood Resilience Strategy, which was out for consultation earlier this year, proposes a move away from fixing flooding problems to ‘creating flood resilient places’. This means, in theory, that communities should be further empowered to take proactive action in preparing for extreme weather.

In our response to the consultation, we cautiously welcomed this approach for it’s potential to empower communities and make it easier for them to leverage resource. However, we also highlighted the potential impact on already stretched volunteers in local communities and reinforced the need for adequate information, support and resource.

This message was further reiterated at the recent Resilient Communities Conference hosted by the Scottish Government. Katie Bartholomew from the government’s Climate Change Behaviours team stated that promoting climate resilience is most effective at the neighbourhood level. Also, in a panel discussion exploring the role of community volunteers in emergencies, panellists were emphatic about the importance of a community-led and asset-based approach to climate resilience.

So what can volunteers in local communities do to prepare for extreme weather and other emergency situations this winter? The good news is that there are lots of resources available to support communities in taking a proactive approach.

The first stop for any community group or individual keen to support their community is the Ready Scotland website. It includes a plethora of resources for individuals and groups on preparing for extreme weather and reducing the impact of emergencies when they occur. In particular, the ‘Guide to emergency planning for community groups’ provides useful guidance on creating a Community Emergency Plan.

Secondly, the National Centre for Resilience, based at Glasgow University, is an academic research hub using evidence to inform policy and practice. It hosts a Knowledge Exchange where community groups can both inform the development of resilience strategies and learn from the latest research.

Finally, the National Consortium for Societal Resilience have developed a strategy and manual on how to create local resilience capacity. It includes a range of useful modules, including one looking at managing ‘spontaneous volunteers’, or individuals who offer support on a one-off basis in response to an emergency.

Do you live in a community that is vulnerable to extreme weather? Have you given your time as a volunteer in response to an emergency? If so, share your story with us or get in touch to help us improve our support and resources in this field.