Emergency Response and Urgent Appeals

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.