What we do & why we do it
Our aim is to reduce the impacts of flooding on individuals and communities, through providing immediate support and by establishing a network of community resilience groups in flood risk areas to equip communities to cope with the impacts and threat of flooding.
Why? Firstly – we know what it is like to be affected by flooding – if you are at risk of flooding or have been flooded and want to know what to do – our team will support and advise you – whatever your query or concern.
So what do we do? – we provide advice and information to individuals to help protect their home from flooding or, if the worst has happened, to recover from flooding. We do this via our publications and website, via our enquiry line or where necessary, face to face.
We help raise awareness and provide education and training to communities and community groups worried about flood risk and can support and advise on the set up and development of a Community Resilience Group in your area.
We work with local authorities and their partners in raising community awareness, promoting self help and developing community groups. We also work with local authorities to establish a recovery support programme after a flood to ensure support is in place for the affected communities for the long term.
Our experience
Firstly – we know what it is like to be affected by flooding. Flooding can have devastating implications for people and their property. The effects on communities and individuals can last for years. Because we have experienced flooding ourselves, we understand the huge consequences – both practical and emotional – that follow the flooding of homes and communities.
Such flooding can start from various sources (e.g. rivers, the sea, surface water and the sewerage system) but the negative impacts are the same. Many people face being out of their homes for months, the process of property drying and repair can be a difficult experience. Repair work can sadly, be of a poor standard, and holding down work and family commitments can for many people be too much.
This is why we provide support and help to those who are faced with going through this experience – because we have been there too – either through direct experience or by walking with people as they deal with, and recover from, flooded homes. Our experience over the past 14 years is both unique and relevant to anyone facing flooding.
Sadly climate change is predicted to increase the risk of such flooding throughout Scotland over the coming decades so the problem is not going to go away.
It is therefore becoming even more important that the resilience of communities at flood risk is enhanced – through the creation of local groups, raising of awareness, through physical intervention (natural or engineered defences) both at a community and personal level and, importantly, having the capacity in place to assist those communities who suffer flooding.