Capability Building Event – July 2022
Photo by Gustavo Fring
In July 2022 we hosted this quarter’s capability building event. These sessions allow partners to come together collectively to strengthen relationships, build capability and share insight, improving understanding as we work together to advance national resilience to major shocks and emergencies. There were three focusses for this event which partners could choose from. They were:
Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) - an overview of the LRF models, the structures and legislations they follow whilst exploring the role of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) within them.
The impact of emergencies on deaf and hard of hearing communities - exploring the diverse needs of deaf people and people with hearing loss in emergencies, challenging assumptions and reflecting on a summary and the recommendations from a report into the impact of COVID-19 on deaf communities.
Impact of the cost-of-living crisis on communities - an open forum for partners to question, share and explore how they are experiencing and directly addressing the cost-of-living crisis in their communities and work.
These sessions ran concurrently in three different breakout rooms. However, we recorded and have now uploaded each of these discussions to YouTube so that both those who attended, and those who did not, can catch-up with the presentations and workshops held in all three breakout rooms.
BREAKOUT ROOM 1: Local Resilience Forums
The key points covered in the first breakout room included:
Only around 50% of participants said that they had a direct relationship with their LRF. A small proportion have access to Resilience Direct.
The involvement of the VCS in LRFs across England varies greatly with no legislation that requires VCS participation, however the National Preparedness Commission’s recent independent review of the Civil Contingencies Act, heavily promoted the benefits.
Our partners’ experiences with LRFs also varies with some saying there was good collaboration and integration of the VCS, whereas others felt smaller organisations who bring a lot of knowledge and experience were being overlooked.
National organisations found that the best way for them to forge relationships with LRFs was to do so on a local level.
Many partners felt that the pandemic had given greater recognition to the work of the VCS and opened doors to LRFs. However, there was concern that there is now a return to ‘business as usual.’
There are many benefits that come with close collaboration and working with LRFs including giving a voice to local communities and further training opportunities such as TTXs (Tabletop Exercises).
BREAKOUT ROOM 2: The impact of emergencies on deaf and hard of hearing communities
The key points covered in the second breakout room included:
It is thought that 1 in 6 people in the UK have some form of hearing loss, the equivalent of 12 million people. 2 million of these people use hearing aids and 151,000 communicate through British Sign Language (BSL).
The needs of people who are deaf or are hard of hearing can be very different and their communication preferences also vary. Not all deaf people can sign and not all can lipread.
Innovative technologies are providing improved methods of communication for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. For example, 999BSL now allows deaf people to be connected to a BSL interpreter in an emergency, who will relay the information to a 999 operator.
A report looking at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on deaf and hard of hearing communities found that:
Stressful situations such as emergencies can make communication harder, it can also be more difficult to let others know about their deafness or hearing loss.
Greater consideration of how to use technology would be extremely beneficial. For example, speaking over the telephone is not easily accessible for many people.
Robust awareness training for volunteers contributes to building resilience and important to involve people with sensory loss in planning, preparedness, and training.
BREAKOUT ROOM 3: The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on communities
The key points covered in the third breakout room included:
There are many areas of concern in relation to the cost-of-living crisis. From food insecurity to fuel poverty, mental health challenges and low wages within the voluntary sector, there are many factors that are exacerbated by cost-of-living crisis.
Citizens Advice has seen enquiries rise over the past year. When comparing June 2021 and 2022, they found that they had 400 cases more per day with people in fuel crisis, and 300 more per day with people looking for foodbank support.
There was agreement that partnership working is the best way to support vulnerable people in our communities. Examples of collaborative work between partners included:
The Trussell Trust and Citizens Advice forming their Help through Hardship scheme.
NCVO and the Community Transport Association are leading a fuel allowance campaign.
Maldon and District CVS have a storage container of items that those in crisis may need. Partners such as Citizens Advice, Salvation Army and local churches can access the items to support those who need it.
There was discussion around the creation of a warm spaces map, like that created in London to show the cool spaces during the heatwave. This would support those struggling with fuel poverty as we move into the winter months and could also help address the loneliness that many in this situation feel.
More organisations are seeing people avoiding cooking to save on their energy bills. There has therefore been greater demand for ready meals.