When emergencies happen, communities respond to meet the needs of the people involved. Benefitting from a deep understanding of the local community, including insight into the needs and concerns of the most vulnerable individuals, local groups are prepared to act at the point of crisis – drawing on all their knowledge and connections – and to remain as a trusted network of support and resilience during the long weeks, months, or even years of recovery. Their role in societal resilience should be better acknowledged and properly valued and supported.
NPC Commissioner John Barradell OBE writes about the value of putting people’s needs first in this piece for the National Emergencies Trust (re-posted here with permission).