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Voluntary
Organisations
Within the Teesside
area the Cleveland Emergency Planning Unit works in partnership with the
local voluntary organisations to plan and prepare for major incidents.
The contribution made by the voluntary services in past disasters has been
incalculable and needs to be considered carefully in the planning stages by
all the emergency services and other responders. The voluntary
organisations and the emergency services meet three times per year in the
Teesside Voluntary Emergency Liaison Group (VELG), so that issues and
plans can be discussed and responders can become familiar with procedures
and individuals from other organisations. Practice is vital to maintain the links and understanding of
each other’s roles, this is why the voluntary organisations are included
wherever possible in emergency exercises.
The voluntary
organisations represented include:
 The British Red
Cross provides care for people
in crisis, through their daily services and in times of emergency. They
can provide trained and equipped first aiders and ambulance crews along
with a vast array of equipment from ambulances to blankets, medical
equipment to small air shelters. The British Red Cross is a national
organisation that can draw on resources of other areas to bring in further
staff and equipment if needed. The Red Cross can provide practical help
and emotional support to those in need, from staffing rest centres to
attending road accidents. For further information regarding the Red Cross
visit their website at: www.redcross.org.uk
Cleveland
RAYNET
(Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network) provides an emergency radio
communication system in the event of telephone or other widespread
communications failures. During
emergencies mobile telephone systems become overloaded, flooding and
electricity failures can reduce radio and
phone coverage by damaging telephone exchanges and electrical sub-stations
that provides power to fixed radio equipment. RAYNET can provide radios
from fixed aerial positions, from vehicles or on foot using hand held
equipment. RAYNET is a national organisation and can call in resources
from other areas to assist. For further information on Cleveland
RAYNET
visit their website at:
www.Clevelandraynet.awardspace.com
 Cleveland Search and Rescue Team is one of the many mountain rescue teams that exist in the upland areas of the UK.
The Team is made up of around 50 men and women, from all walks of life who are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week to go to the help of people missing or injured on the North Yorks Moors in the North East of England.
In the Team at present we have salesmen and students, engineers and electricians, doctors and policemen, teachers and retired people to name but a few. All have a background in the outdoors whether as walkers, mountaineers or climbers and all dedicate a lot of their time into their mountain rescue training. None of the Team is paid for their mountain rescue activities. For further information on the CSRT visit their website at: www.clevelandsrt.co.uk
 Middlesbrough Council of
Faiths is a contact body for the
faith communities in the Tees Valley. Pastoral care appropriate for
Ba'hais, Buddhists, Christians of all denominations, Hindus, Jews,
Muslims, Quakers, Sikhs, Spiritualists, and Unitarians can be arranged
as and when required. The network of contacts can also provide
information about procedures for dealing appropriately with bodies in
preparation for burial or cremation, and participation of faith leaders
in the planning and conduct of any Memorial Services. This is also a
valuable network for identification and access to premises like church
halls for emergency rest centres, and places of worship to be designated
for acts of prayer and remembrance. The network can also be a means of
accessing volunteer helpers should the normal resources be
over-stretched. For further information visit their website at:
www.middlesbroughfaiths.org.uk.
 The RSPCA
as a charity will, by all lawful means, prevent cruelty, promote kindness
to and alleviate suffering of animals. Within the Northern Region there
are a number of Inspectors and Animal Collection Officers equipped with
vehicles of various sizes and animal handling equipment. The RSPCA can
provide boats for flood or coastal rescues and teams trained in abseil and
cliff rescue techniques. The RSPCA is a national organisation and can
bring in further resources and trained staff from other areas. For
further information visit their website at:
www.rspca.org.uk
 Samaritans Teesside
is available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for
people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including
those which may lead to suicide. Following a major incident where
great loss or distress has occurred the Samaritans can provide support to
those involved through their normal service or support teams at the
incident or Humanitarian Assistance Centre. For further information
visit their website at:
www.samaritans.org/
 St. John Ambulance
North Yorkshire and Teesside provide a first aid service and equipment to
respond to major
incidents, providing volunteers and ambulances where needed. St.
John Ambulance is a national organisation and can draw on resources from
other parts of the country to assist. For more information visit
their website at: www.sja.org.uk
The Salvation Army
supports the work of the emergency services by providing refreshments,
shelter and counselling at major incidents. Services can be provided
at the Humanitarian Assistance Centre for anyone affected by an incident.
For further information visit the Salvation Army website at:
www1.salvationarmy.org.uk
 Victim Support and
Witness Service Teesside is
dedicated to reducing the effects of crime on victims and witnesses.
Trained volunteers offer someone to talk to in confidence, provide
information on police and court procedures, help in dealing with other
organisations, information about compensation and insurance and support
before and during attendance at court. Representatives will attend the
Humanitarian Assistance Centre to offer services to those affected by
criminal acts or need to attend court. For further information visit the
Victim Support Teesside website at: www.victimsupport.org.uk
 The WRVS
provide teams of volunteers supported
by professional managers to assist the statutory and emergency services
and utilities in their welfare support of the community during times of
emergency. Volunteers are trained in staffing designated rest centres and
are experts in providing a befriending service to those affected by an
emergency. Emergency feeding can be provided from a large storage
building within the Teesside area. The WRVS is a national organisation
and can call on members from other areas to assist. For further
information visit the WRVS website at:
www.wrvs.org.uk
No liability is accepted in
respect of the content of external websites as they are beyond the
control of the Cleveland Emergency Planning Unit
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