Somerset’s community resilience day to celebrate benefits of youth
The “energy, ideas and connections” of youth are to be at the forefront of the annual Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Day.
The popular event – this year bigger than ever – is to be held on Wednesday 21 October at Millfield School in Street.
This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Dr Martin Parham, whose work focuses on involving young people in community resilience planning.
Dr Parham, a Lecturer in Disaster Management at the University of Manchester, said: “Young people have so much to offer when it comes to building resilient communities, but too often they’re left out of the conversation. My experiences from work in Manchester and the Caribbean tell me that when you give young people a genuine role in resilience planning, they bring energy, ideas and connections that have great potential benefits. I’m looking forward to sharing that experience in Somerset and seeing how it can help shape the work happening here.”
This year’s Resilience Day brings together Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA), the Environment Agency Somerset Council and many more to help communities become more resilient in emergencies. The event is organised by the Somerset Prepared partnership and funded by the SRA.
The picture at the top of this page shows Ellie Bamforth, left, of Somerset Council’s Emergency Planning, Response and Recovery (EPRR) service with EPRR leader Nicola Dawson at last year’s resilience day.
Workshops will show people how to create emergency plans, prepare ahead of wildfire, and understand weather patterns such as El Niño.
A demonstration will show what three days’ worth of food and water for a household looks like.
Youth-themed sessions include Hampshire Young People’s Emergency Response scheme, and the National Flood Forum with local flood action groups on engaging schools.
Somerset Council will provide an update on the £50 million Somerset Flood Resilience Fund awarded by the government earlier this year.
The event also features Community Resilience Awards, championing those who have gone above and beyond to help their community cope with emergencies
Dr Bel Deering, community engagement officer for Somerset Rivers Authority, said: “Emergencies can happen at any time, and the communities that cope best are often those who have already taken time to plan ahead. This event gives everyone the chance to learn directly from the organisations who respond to emergencies across Somerset, and to take away practical tools they can use straight away.”
October 2026 is the first Somerset Flood Awareness Month, while the Environment Agency’s Flood Action Week begins on Monday 12 October. Both aim to raise awareness of flood risk, and the actions people can take to protect themselves and their property.
Emma Giffard, flood resilience engagement advisor for the Environment Agency, said: “Flooding remains one of the most significant risks facing communities across Somerset, and local knowledge is one of our most powerful tools in managing that risk.
“This Community Resilience Day is a fantastic opportunity for community representatives to meet the people and organisations who can support them, see equipment demonstrations, and get hands-on advice tailored to their area.”
