A project has started to create an emergency hub in Bratton, which will provide a centre for community self-help during a crisis.
The scheme is being led by Bratton Parish Councillor Dave Waller, who delivered a presentation to a well-attended event at the village’s Jubilee Hall on Tuesday 14th October to explain the hub to the community.
“If Covid taught us anything, communities must be prepared for emergencies,” said Cllr Waller. “While we don’t anticipate any dire emergencies in the near future, it is vital that we have a plan and that people are trained to cope in a crisis.”
Emergency hubs are community-led spaces that help residents support each other during major emergencies when official services may be overwhelmed. Run by volunteers, they use local venues, which in Bratton’s case will be the Jubilee Hall. The Church Institute will serve as a back-up location.
If needed, it is planned that the Jubilee Hall will offer a range of support, including a safe and warm gathering place, welfare and food, and that it will be able to co-ordinate community-based solutions to local problems. The hub will co-ordinate with all emergency services and will be guided by them when necessary.
“We are looking for volunteers to man the hub, to act as street wardens who can check on the vulnerable and disseminate information,” said Cllr Waller.
“Radio hams, who could contact the emergency services if the phones go down, would be a huge asset to the community, as would people with four-wheel vehicles who would be prepared to ferry people around. People with medical training who could offer their services would also be a great asset.”
Bratton Parish Council Chairman, Councillor Keith Rayward, thanked Cllr Waller for ‘an excellent event’ and for the hard work that he had put into organising the hub.
“This is something that we really needed,” said Cllr Rayward.
“We will be able to develop the work that we did during Covid and build upon it. I hope that people who feel vulnerable will feel that they can submit their names for inclusion on our register so that our volunteers can check on them and their needs in an emergency.”
For more information, please contact dave.waller@brattonparishcouncil.gov.uk or visit https://brattonparishcouncil.gov.uk/emergency-procedures/
