Emergency Help Team
Councillor Members of Emergency Help Team :
- Cllr. Mel Alesi
- Cllr. Jose Castro
- Cllr. Adele Sharp
In case of a life-threatening emergency call 999
Voluntary assistance to support non-life-threatening emergencies as described below can be co-ordinated locally through Kent Resilience Team, who will mobilise Staplehurst Emergency Help Team if appropriate.
New SEHT Volunteers are always welcome so please register your interest with Staplehurst Parish Council by completing a Volunteer Application Form (see link below).
It often takes a major emergency to bring out the best in people for the common good. The fire in Staplehurst High Street in July 2010 brought together a number of key people who were able to look after those who had been displaced from their homes, whilst the fire-fighters got on with their job of dealing with the fire. Who knows what emergency, big or small, might befall residents in Staplehurst in future? A willing volunteer to give practical help or support is very much valued by those in distress.
In winter snow and ice, elderly and housebound people have difficulty getting prescriptions or shopping. Neighbours want to help one-another but due to confidentiality protocols they may be prevented from collecting prescriptions for others. To conserve supplies, shops often restrict the amount of essential items such as bread and milk that could be bought by one person. In these two key areas, people with the best of intentions are unable to help their neighbours. To ensure this situation does not arise in future, the Staplehurst Emergency Help Team (SEHT) has been set up with the backing of Staplehurst Parish Council to help co-ordinate volunteer help, to ensure that voluntary assistance reaches those in need in our parish.
The SEHT has gathered information about the local non-life-threatening risks that local residents might face. The SEHT invites local volunteers to offer help "officially" in advance of such situations. The main areas of emergency risk are extremes of weather, major accidents, fire, pollution or loss of utilities. Volunteers are needed to join the database which will be used to mobilise assistance during an emergency. If you have local knowledge, equipment, professional expertise, ability to fetch and carry or organise others - the SEHT needs to hear from you now! Everyone has abilities – a listening ear to someone in distress or providing a hot meal can be just as welcome as a driver of a 4 x 4 when people are in need.
The SEHT is able to co-ordinate details of any help you would be willing to give and aims to assist residents in need of help during an emergency such as those described above. The information given will be maintained and used in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Volunteers will only be contacted in the event of being notified of an emergency or annually to check that your details remain correct. The SEHT volunteer steering group meets regularly to plan and train for future emergencies so it is able to mobilise SEHT volunteers quickly in the event of a parish emergency. If you would like to offer your help and/or join the SEHT, you will be very welcome. Please complete the Volunteer Application Form below and forward it to the Parish Clerk by post or email.
Meetings are open to anyone interested in volunteering or finding out about the SEHT.