SRA Annual Report 2023-24: Community engagement, events, schools
Two new Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) community engagement officers were recruited in 2023. Bel Deering started in early August, Paul Elliston early October (they are pictured in the middle of the photo below, on a site visit).
In the period covered by this report – to the end of March 2024 – Bel and Paul took part in 123 community events, visits and external meetings and interacted with approximately 1,400 local people. They offered advice and support at post-flood recovery drop-in sessions in Minehead, Wellington, Carhampton, Shepton Mallet and Croscombe. They attended two Winter Preparedness events organised by the Environment Agency in Burrowbridge and Moorland and produced a newsletter for communities in the Cam Valley who were badly flooded in May 2023.
They went to 19 Local Community Network (LCN) meetings, ran workshops about resilience and flooding for South East Somerset and Hestercombe LCNs, and gave presentations to Yeovil, Crewkerne and Ilminster, and Taunton LCNs.
They worked with 24 communities on flood resilience and emergency preparedness measures: Blackford, Bruton, Buckland Dinham, Chard, Chilton Cantelo and Ashington, Cotford St Luke, Drayton, Greinton, Hadspen, Ilchester (The Mead), Isle Brewers, Lower Keyford, Lydford-on-Fosse, Marston Magna, Misterton, North Wootton, Norton Fitzwarren, Nynehead, Podimore, Queen Camel, Sampford Brett, Shepton Montague, Wellington, Williton, Yarlington.
Sessions were tailored to address specific local flood risks and concerns and explore options for reducing the risks and impacts of flooding. So, for example, Bel and Paul stressed the benefits of writing emergency plans with as much community involvement as possible, and promoted SRA-funded Somerset Prepared small grants for training and equipment.
Bel and Paul worked with people from SRA partner organisations on 41 occasions. For example, with other SRA colleagues, they took part in the Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Conference on 5 October 2023. This attracted over 100 people from across Somerset. The keynote opening speech was given by the SRA Chair Councillor Mike Stanton. Sessions included the Environment Agency on riparian responsibilities, Ilton and Kingston St Mary community case studies, and workshops with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and Avon and Somerset Police. The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset (Mohammed Saddiq) officiated at the prize-giving ceremony for the annual Somerset Community Champions award, which honours individuals and groups in Somerset who have made their communities more resilient.
In March 2024, the SRA sponsored a Somerset Rural Life Museum exhibition called Under the Surface. This marked the 10th anniversary of the Somerset floods of 2013-14 by showing photographs from Matilda Temperley’s sold-out publication Under the Surface: Somerset Floods, alongside previously unpublished colour photographs taken by her during the winter of 2013-14. Also on display were photographs newly commissioned from Matilda Temperley, reflecting on changes to the Somerset landscape over the past decade, particularly as regards flood management. To accompany this exhibition, the SRA organised several events and talks. The first get-together in March – a Flood Café held at the museum in Glastonbury – was well attended. People who have been flooded, or who have been affected by flooding, value opportunities for connection, networking and peer support.
Also in the early months of 2024, the SRA teamed up with Somerset Council’s Curriculum & Topic Lead officer to create resources for Somerset schools about flooding. The aim was to produce a series of high-quality lesson plans about the geography and history of the Somerset Levels and Moors, with videos, presentations and ideas for activities. These resources were tried out in school assemblies and classrooms in summer 2024.