Facing the future Ralph Throp Head of Community Resilience Policy Scottish Government
Making the Connections?
Individuals
Keeping Scotland resilient Planning, protecting, building capabilities
Assessing and mitigating risk
Organisations
Communities
Responding and recovering
Learning
Resilient Communities – what do we mean?
“Resilience succeeds as a mobilizing idea. It brings people and organizations together that normally do not interact, especially from diverse sectors, and links them through a shared sense of interdependency�. (Bach et al 2015)
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
SCENARIO What if, on a normal work day in the early afternoon, an announcement was made that went something like this …
“There is an outbreak of a smallpox in your area. All residents must report immediately to a local public facility to be vaccinated”.
Would you go?
Google tells you….
“Young people, old people and people with preexisting health conditions have an increased risk of serious adverse reaction to the vaccine, or to exposure to people recently vaccinated.”
Would you go, now?
What would it take to change your mind?
“We live in a brittle society”
(Edwards 2009)
“Next generation resilience relies on citizens and communities, not the institutions of the state”
What does that mean in practice? This sort of Resilience matters‌
Launch of the NRC 2016
Clutha Vaults, 29 November 2013
‌ and this sort of Resilience matters too
A real scenario….. • There is a widespread power failure in rural area with an older demographic. Its winter and its going to last several days. • The power company needs to distribute generators to vulnerable customers – but it’s drivers don’t know the local roads or conditions.
A community led solution • Southend community emergency plan – work with Scottish and Southern Energy and Argyll and Bute Council.
Community resilience – definition or behaviours? Individuals and households
Businesses
• • • • •
• • •
Are risks aware and have plans Have access to clear advice Take sensible precautions Young people learn about resilience Are capable and confident to safely offer help to others
Voluntary and community groups • • • • •
Develop local community emergency plans Know how they can act to help others Make their capabilities known to public sector agencies, Take part in joint training and exercising and Have robust and relevant business continuity
•
Plan for disruption Collaborate Are part of their communities Plan for their staff’s resilience
Key Initiatives • • • • • •
Community resilience planning The Ready for Winter campaign Resilience education Voluntary sector integration The Business Emergency Recovery Group The Lifelines voluntary responder wellbeing project
Looking Forward? Understanding the drivers of resilience: • • • • • • • •
Emergency planning Cohesion Community Safety (crime and accidental harm) Governance Economy Environment Health Social inclusion
How to develop a shared narrative, about outcomes, ways of working and deliverables? • • • •
Risk based decision making Horizon scanning Acting on emerging themes and risks Thinking 10-20+ years ahead.
Thank you. Ralph Throp Scottish Government Ralph.throp@gov.scot 01312445911 www.readyscotland.org