Joint Civil Aid Corps - National Civil Defence

17/10/2026

Founders Day - RBL Garden of Remembrance.

Founders Day is our moment to pause, reflect, and honour those who came before us—the pioneers of civil defence whose service, sacrifice, and quiet determination laid the foundations we stand on today.

At the RBL Garden of Remembrance, every tree, every pathway, and every memorial tells a story of community commitment, resilience, and national service. Today, we remember the men and women who dedicated themselves to protecting others, often without recognition and always with unwavering resolve.

Their legacy lives on in the volunteers, responders, and community leaders who continue that mission across the United Kingdom.

We remember. We honour. We continue their work.

17/10/2026

Yesterday, our Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer met virtually with the Director and Deputy Director of the A7 Training Branch via Microsoft Teams.
The session was highly productive, with detailed discussions on the full training pathway, the development of a national training pipeline, and the governance.

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Want to learn more or get involved?
📧 Contact us by email:
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]

🔎 Visit our homepage at:
jcac.org.uk

15/10/2026

Today the Joint Civil Aid Corps is featured in the national press, in an article in The Economist section "Britain | State of Emergency", about the changing national conversation surrounding Civil Defence within the United Kingdom.

When the Corps first began fourteen years ago, discussions about citizen preparedness, community resilience and whole-of-society responses to emergencies were often regarded as niche subjects. Today, those same themes are increasingly being discussed within government, think tanks, resilience organisations and the wider public sector. Chief Officer Colin Harmsworth responds to the article; "To me, that is perhaps the most significant aspect of the article."

The article situates the Corps within a wider debate about how the nation prepares itself for future risks and emergencies.
To access the article, either start a free trial, or click on the second link with the article to sign up for a free account and access to the article. If you choose the free trial, please ensure you cancel within the trial period, if it is not your intention to continue the subscription.

You can also purchase a print copy of The Economist, which will be on newsstands tomorrow.

The government wants its citizens to prepare for crises

11/10/2026

Churchill Local Hero Award – 2026

Devon Region Winner: Stephen Barnes

On Thursday 1st October, JCAC volunteer Stephen Barnes was honoured as the Churchill Local Hero Award Winner for the Devon Region, recognising his outstanding dedication to supporting those around him and his continued positive impact within the community.

Stephen is a valued member of the Joint Civil Aid Corps.
His contributions — both during JCAC activities and in his wider community involvement — reflect a strong commitment to public service and community resilience.

All of us at the Joint Civil Aid Corps extend our warm congratulations to Stephan on receiving this well‑deserved recognition. His efforts exemplify the spirit of volunteerism and community support that the JCAC strives to uphold.

About the Churchill Local Hero Awards

The Churchill Local Hero Awards, established by Churchill Living, celebrate older individuals across the UK who continue to make a significant difference in their communities. The awards highlight those whose dedication, kindness, and ongoing contributions inspire others and strengthen local support networks.

28/09/2026

Module 1 – Foundation Training (Greater London & West Midlands)

On Saturday 26th September 2026, both London and West Midlands (Tamworth) successfully delivered Module 1 – Foundation Training, marking a strong step forward in our national volunteer development pathway.

Across both regions, a combined cohort of 30 volunteers took part, including attendance from the Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer at our London training hub, who supported and observed the sessions throughout the day.

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Morning – Classroom & Theory Learning

Volunteers began the day with a structured interactive, classroom‑based session covering responder mindset, core principles of situational awareness, initial safe scene management, scene coordination, responder mindset and operational awareness.

This included focused on incident‑specific learning, covering water incidents, RTCs, and fires, followed by a theory assessment to confirm understanding of key concepts.

Both regions emphasised hazard identification, safe decision‑making, and the foundational knowledge required for practical deployment.

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Afternoon – Practical, Scenario‑Based Training

Volunteers then transitioned into hands‑on training designed to reinforce the morning’s learning and build operational confidence. Practical modules included:

• Cardiac Arrest Response
• Catastrophic Bleeding Control
• Traffic Management
• Scene Safety
• Drone Observation & Appreciation

These sessions allowed volunteers to apply structured techniques, practise teamwork, and gain exposure to realistic operational challenges in a controlled environment.

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Debrief & Feedback

Both regions concluded their training days with team debriefs, reflecting on learning outcomes and sharing observations. Feedback from volunteers across London and the West Midlands was excellent, highlighting the professionalism of the training teams and the value of the blended theory‑and‑practical approach.

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Want to learn more or get involved?
📧 Contact us by email:
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]

🔎 Visit our homepage at:
jcac.org.uk

19/09/2026

Emergency Services Show 2026 – JCAC National Civil Defence attendance.

The Joint Civil Aid Corps (JCAC) – National Civil Defence showcased its expanding capability and national coordination at the Emergency Services Show 2026, reinforcing its role as a structured, modern, and professionally organised volunteer civil defence organisation. Across the two‑day event, JCAC representatives engaged with emergency service professionals, resilience planners, voluntary‑sector partners, government personnel, and the general public highlighting the organisation’s commitment to strengthening community resilience throughout the United Kingdom.

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National Engagement and Representation

Positioned at Stand CZ35, JCAC volunteers spoke with hundreds of members of the public, emergency services, and resilience stakeholders, discussing and demonstrating:

• National Operations — showcasing and discussing structured civil defence activity delivered across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Wight.
• Britain Ready Programme — The national public‑readiness initiative, promoting household and community preparedness through leaflets, conversations, and practical guidance.
• Volunteer Development — Clear training pathways, operational duties, and progression opportunities within the organisation.
• Inter‑Agency Collaboration — Growing partnerships with emergency services, local authorities, and voluntary organisations.

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Showcasing Modern Civil Defence Capability

We displayed a range of operational tools and resources that support our mission to enhance community resilience, including:

• Drones
• Uniforms and patrol equipment used by volunteer responders
• Preparedness materials supporting public education and resilience engagement

These displays emphasised JCAC’s commitment to maintaining a modern, professional, and nationally consistent civil defence capability.

In addition, volunteers distributed Civil Defence stickers and leaflets to attendees, helping raise awareness of the UK’s modern civil defence identity and encouraging public engagement. JCAC also offered a small selection of branded items available for purchase and handouts, enabling visitors to support the organisation through donation‑based sales, with all proceeds contributing directly back to the organisation.

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Strengthening National Recognition

Attendance at the Emergency Services Show provided JCAC National with significant opportunities to:

• Engage with senior emergency service leaders
• Explore new partnership and collaboration avenues
• Increase public awareness of JCAC’s national mission
• Promote volunteer recruitment and development
• Enhance visibility of the Britain Ready programme
• Expand recognition of JCAC’s modern civil defence identity through public‑facing materials and engagement items.

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Want to learn more or get involved?
📧 Contact us by email:
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]

🔎 Visit our homepage at:
jcac.org.uk

15/09/2026

Preparing for ESS — JCAC Stand Nearly Ready

Our team has been working diligently today, and we’re pleased to share that our stand is now partially set up and ready for The Emergency Service Show (ESS) tomorrow and Thursday.

We'll be placing the backdrop, informational materials, and the rest of our equipment tomorrow morning before welcoming visitors.

Tomorrow and Thursday, our dedicated volunteers will be available throughout the day to engage with members of the public, answer questions, and highlight the wide range of opportunities within the Joint Civil Aid Corps. Whether you’re interested in preparedness, keen to volunteer, or simply want to learn more about our activities, our team will be ready to assist.

We look forward to meeting everyone and continuing our mission of building community resilience, one conversation at a time.

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Want to learn more or get involved?
📧 Contact us by email:
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]

🔎 Visit our homepage at:
jcac.org.uk

09/09/2026

Today, The Joint Civil Aid Corps - National Civil Defence proudly joins communities across the country in recognising Emergency Services Day.

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who serves within our emergency services and voluntary response organisations. From police, fire and rescue, ambulance and coastguard teams to search and rescue, civil defence, and the many volunteers and support services working alongside them - your dedication, professionalism and compassion make a difference every day.

Whether responding to an emergency, supporting communities during difficult times, or working behind the scenes to keep people safe, your contribution is greatly valued.

From everyone at the JCAC - thank you for all that you do.

Different uniforms. One shared purpose. Stronger, safer communities.

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09/09/2026

**Emergency Services Show 2026 – One Week to Go**

Only one week remains until the Emergency Services Show (ESS) 2026, taking place on 17–18 September — and our volunteers from across the UK are gearing up to unite, support, and showcase the work of the Joint Civil Aid Corps at Stand CZ35.

Throughout the two‑day event, visitors can explore our display, learn who we are, discover what we do, and speak directly with our dedicated volunteers about community resilience, emergency preparedness, and opportunities to get involved.

We warmly invite everyone attending ESS to stop by, meet the team, and see how JCAC contributes to a safer, more resilient UK.

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📍 Find Us at the ESS:

Stand: CZ35
Venue: National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham
Address: B40 1NT, UK
What3Words: ///keeps.tiger.link

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Want to learn more or get involved?
📧 Contact us by email:
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]

🔎 Visit our homepage at:
jcac.org.uk

05/09/2026

Launch of Our New JCAC Foundation Training

The Joint Civil Aid Corps is proud to announce the launch of the new National JCAC Foundation Training, our entry‑level development pathway for all new volunteers. It is designed to develop volunteers into confident, disciplined responders ready to support supervised operational activities.

This training introduces the core mindset, behaviours, and scene‑awareness expected of JCAC members, helping volunteers as they begin their journey into structured Emergency Service and public support.

Our first training session for the new foundation training will be:

📅 Saturday 26 September
📍 At the JCAC London – Archway Training Hub
⏰ 08:30 – 16:30

The session will cover Module One: Mindset & Scene Management, combining essential classroom learning with practical, scenario‑based activities created specifically for this initial session.

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Want to learn more or get involved?
📧 Contact us by email:
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]

🔎 Visit our homepage at:
jcac.org.uk