Emergency Response and Urgent Appeals: Difference between revisions

From Freegle Wiki
← Older edit
No edit summary
Wiki revamp: restructure & modernise
 
Line 1: Line 1:
===Background===
==Background==
Following the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017, we realised we had no strategy for involving Freegle in helping with emergencies. This was discussed on the Development group, and we agreed we could be more organised, but any proposal needs to be proportionate to our resources. Having a plan in place helps us be more effective in a national or local emergency, crisis or disaster. Getting involved on our own is difficult and usually not appropriate, so the strategy adopted respects the autonomy of communities and is primarily reactive, supporting other organisations.


Following the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017, we realised that we have no strategy for involving Freegle in helping with emergencies.  We discussed this on Development Group and agreed we can be more organised, but any proposal needs to be proportionate to our resources.  Having a plan in place will help us be more effective in a national or local emergency/crisis/disaster. Getting involved on our own is difficult and usually not appropriate, so the strategy adopted takes into account autonomy of communities and primarily being reactive to other organisations.
==Strategy==
 
*Our strength lies in offering our network as a way for others to get out information and ask for help over the longer term.
===Strategy===
*We need to be known by agencies and organisations involved in Local Resilience Forums (LRFs): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-resilience-forums-contact-details
*Offering our network as a means for others to get out information and ask for help in the longer term is where our strength lies.
*In a national emergency, we should use support@ilovefreegle.org as a central contact point - it's monitored as close to 24/7 as possible by volunteers, with a small team rather than one individual handling messages.
*We need to be known by agencies and organisations involved in local resilience forums (LRFs) [[https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-resilience-forums-contact-details]]
*An information sheet/guide should be kept on the wiki for national volunteers. See [[Emergency Response and Urgent Appeals - National Response]].
*In a national emergency we should use support@ilovefreegle.org as a central contact point, as it is manned as near to 24/7 as possible by volunteers, and there is a small team rather that one individual to cope with messages.
*An information sheet/guide should be provided with who does what and where on the wiki for national personnel. See [[Emergency Response and Urgent Appeals - National Response]]
*Central will be told that help has been requested and what response has been made.
*Central will be told that help has been requested and what response has been made.
*If the situation merits messages being quickly posted on communities, the Board can make the decision to post directly on FD communites and/or relevant communities being bulk mailed with a message to be placed locally.
*If the situation calls for messages to be posted quickly on communities, the Board can decide to post directly on Freegle Direct communities and/or bulk-mail relevant communities with a message to place locally.
*An information sheet/guide will be provided on the wiki for local volunteers. See [[Emergency Response and Urgent Appeals - Group Response]].
*An information sheet/guide will be kept on the wiki for local volunteers. See [[Emergency Response and Urgent Appeals - Group Response]].
 
===Review===
This strategy should be reviewed after any occasion that the procedure is used to learn lessons and check that it is fit for purpose.


==Review==
This strategy should be reviewed after each occasion the procedure is used, to learn lessons and check it's still fit for purpose.


[[category:Emergencies]]
[[Category:Difficult Situations & Problems]]

Latest revision as of 12:00, 17 July 2026

Background

Following the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017, we realised we had no strategy for involving Freegle in helping with emergencies. This was discussed on the Development group, and we agreed we could be more organised, but any proposal needs to be proportionate to our resources. Having a plan in place helps us be more effective in a national or local emergency, crisis or disaster. Getting involved on our own is difficult and usually not appropriate, so the strategy adopted respects the autonomy of communities and is primarily reactive, supporting other organisations.

Strategy

  • Our strength lies in offering our network as a way for others to get out information and ask for help over the longer term.
  • We need to be known by agencies and organisations involved in Local Resilience Forums (LRFs): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-resilience-forums-contact-details
  • In a national emergency, we should use support@ilovefreegle.org as a central contact point - it's monitored as close to 24/7 as possible by volunteers, with a small team rather than one individual handling messages.
  • An information sheet/guide should be kept on the wiki for national volunteers. See Emergency Response and Urgent Appeals - National Response.
  • Central will be told that help has been requested and what response has been made.
  • If the situation calls for messages to be posted quickly on communities, the Board can decide to post directly on Freegle Direct communities and/or bulk-mail relevant communities with a message to place locally.
  • An information sheet/guide will be kept on the wiki for local volunteers. See Emergency Response and Urgent Appeals - Group Response.

Review

This strategy should be reviewed after each occasion the procedure is used, to learn lessons and check it's still fit for purpose.

Retrieved from "https://wiki.ilovefreegle.org/index.php?title=Emergency_Response_and_Urgent_Appeals&oldid=57090"