What’s happening in North Somerset?
Building on the Strategic National Framework for Community Resilience, North Somerset Council (NSC) have set up an innovative scheme that aims to put in place the structure and capabilities for coping with an emergency at the local level.
NSC has developed a programme to be delivered in partnership with Town and Parish Councils and local groups that identifies and prioritises local risks and develops effective mitigation and response capabilities.
The project initially ran as a pilot scheme in Congresbury and followings its success is now being taken North Somerset wide.
What does Community Resilience North Somerset aim to deliver?
The aim is to establish informed, risk aware, self-reliant communities that are capable of independently sustaining their community or complementing the work of emergency responders during localised or major events.
Working to establish an area wide network of community resilience volunteers, the scheme will identify and address local risks such as flooding, traffic, severe weather, pandemic or power failure. The scheme engages, supports and encourages local community’s and partner agencies to work together to identify local risks and develop plans and mitigation strategies that will increase the resilience of individual households, businesses and the wider community.
Is this type of project happening elsewhere?
There are small scale community resilience projects in various areas across the UK but North Somerset’s comprehensive approach is unique. We are seeking to take forward the Strategic National Framework on Community Resilience and put in place a clear structure that develops the capacity and capabilities to cope with an emergency locally.
