1. THE NATIONAL FLOOD FORUM
***
‘Flood Action Groups’
Grassroots Empowerment
Heather Shepherd
Flood Community & Recovery Support
01743 741725
heather.shepherd@floodforum.org.uk
‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’ 1

2. What is ‘The National Flood Forum’?
Help people to prepare
for flooding
Help them to recover
their lives when they
have been flooded
Campaign and work to
ensure that flood risk
communities are at the
centre of policy making
and operational
delivery
‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’ 2
The National Flood Forum is a national
charity dedicated to supporting and
representing communities and
individuals at risk of flooding. It helps
people to prepare for flooding, helps
people to recover their lives once they
have been flooded, and advises and
supports on all the issues that people
are confronted with when at flood risk.
It works on behalf of flood risk
communities to highlight National
concerns and works with government
and agencies to ensure that they
develop a community perspective.

3. ‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’
Website with a
wealth of
information such as
flood risk maps,
latest news &
announcements,
how to keep safe &
prepare
Telephone helpline
for all issues
regarding flooding
and flood risk,
including insurance
and visit support to
start a dedicated
flood group
Our website & telephone helpline
3

4. ‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’
We have been part of
recovery partnerships
since 2005 in Carlisle, The
Yorkshire & Midland
floods of 2007, The
Cumbria floods of 2009
where we there for 16
months. In 2012 we were
in West Sussex,
Lancashire, Manchester,
West Yorkshire & Wales,
and continue to work in
the long term in
Calderdale in West
Yorkshire & West Sussex.
The trailer provides
respite and a listening
empathetic ear, advise
and information.
How we help with Recovery
4

5. ‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’
Flood exhibition surgeries
5
Copy right National Flood Forum
National Flood forum
Copy right National Flood Forum
A show case
of resistant
products
alongside
appertaining
information
and an
independent
guide,
general &
insurance
advise, and a
wealth of
knowledge &
experience

6. Aim for a resilient community
‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’
Like the yellow
pages but with flood
protection
manufacturers and
flood help products
and services
6

7. NFF Services
‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’ 7
Flood Awareness Trailer - An outreach
vehicle to take information/messages to
communities
Flood property level protection exhibitions
Flood surgeries for targeted areas ideal for
flood protection grant schemes and flood
awareness.
Community engagement - going into the
heart the community, bringing them
together to form a core group.
The National Flood Forum provides training
for flood group volunteers & different
authorities and organisations.
Recovery – Supporting Environment Agency
and Local Authorities all over the country to
cope with flood recovery advising on the
likely issues and supporting the community
for the long term.
C National Flood Forum

8. Supporting at grassroots
‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’
Pro-active
Informed
Resilient
The National
Flood Forum
The National
Flood Forum
8
• The bulk of the National
Flood Forums work is
spent supporting
communities across
England & Wales with
Scottish Flood Forum
covering Scotland.

9. What is it like to flood?
When the flood water comes in: …
‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’ 9

10. Why a flood action group?
Brings the community
together
Enables them to work in
partnership with those
collectively that work with
flood risk
Supports how they can
prepare to reduce the
impact on their home &
community
Working with local voluntary
groups to support flood
action groups in instigating
and supporting community
emergency flood plans.
‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’ 10

11. Supporting each other to lessen
the effect – community plan
‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’
Think of the vulnerable
What if you are away?
Are you signed up to
Environment Agency flood
warnings?
Is there a voluntary group
who could help your
community? (Churches
Together, The Rotary, The
Lions)
Practice using products
when the weather is dry
11
• With support & guidance from the National Flood Forum
Buckingham has formed a group of flood affected people and uses
the voluntary group ‘Churches Together’ to support their plan.
• They formed a core group from willing community members and
have named the group FA4B flood action 4 Buckingham. This
group works on a rolling action plan with the Agencies &
Authorities collectively. Messages /information/discussions are
fed into the group and they take responsibility to ensure that the
wider community is kept informed.
• Once this was underway they made an emergency plan for the
community alongside the Voluntary Charity ‘Churches together’ to
ensure community help in any subsequent event, reduce the
impact and support recovery.
• ‘Churches Together’ use non-flooded members and implement the
plan when required, supporting those that do flood.
• To date FAB has organised a dry-run of their plan, held a flood fair
for the Town to enable residents to gain information, learn more
about the plan, speak of concerns, and view a platform of home
protection products, with appertaining information through the
National Flood Forum. They are about to embark on a flood
training day for all their volunteers again through the National
Flood Forum’s training programme, and have planned to hold
yearly flood information and dry run events.

12. ‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’ 12
Published on Thursday 22 November 2012 10:35
Buckingham’s flood action group has sprung into action in the face of an impending
flood.
Heavy rainfall has resulted in high water levels in the Great Ouse in the Buckingham area.
A flood warning was received from the Environment Agency at about 10.30pm last night,
Wednesday, and a reception centre was opened at St Peter and St Paul Church at about
11.30pm by the volunteers of ‘Churches together’
Steve Hallett, who heads the voluntary group for ‘Flood Action 4 Buckingham’, said: “We
were up till about 2am last night supporting residents and feeding up information to the
various agencies.
Flood action group springs into action as
flood warning received
And in November Buckingham
were prepared!

13. Affiliated Flood Action groups
in Essex
‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’
Abridge flood action group has worked
tirelessly since 2000 an now has defences
planned for the summer through the
Environment Agency. They have set up a
Maintenance management company to
ensure the reliability of the defence in the
future.
South Woodham Ferrers Floodwatch are a
group of volunteers from the community
yacht club. They promote public awareness to
the potential risk of flooding and offer a data
collection service to Chelmsford BC giving
actual water heights at the two club gauges.
Should overtopping of the sea walls occur
they make available manned rowing boats as
a back up rescue resource.
Stanstead FAG an arm of the Parish Council
that includes flooded residents that has
formed an emergency flood volunteer group
13
Copy right National Flood Forum

14. We can help and support you all
the way 
‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’ 14
Copy right National Flood Forum