Joint Civil Aid Corps - South West

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.

27/06/2026

Thank You!

We remember those who came before us. We thank those who serve today. We inspire those who will serve tomorrow. Your service will not be forgotten.

24/06/2026

The Joint Civil Aid Corps is proud to launch our new BritainReady tab on our homepage — a dedicated space designed to help communities build confidence and gain knowledge about preparedness in a calm, practical way.

This new section, now bilingual in English and Welsh, offers clear guidance, simple actions, and reassuring information that anyone can use to strengthen personal and community resilience. It reflects our commitment to making preparedness a normal topic — something discussed with family, friends, neighbours, and colleagues long before disruption ever begins.

Across the Corps, volunteers have been contributing to this work through our ongoing Britain Ready Deep Dive Meetings, sharing insights on public engagement, operational readiness, and how to communicate preparedness without creating fear. The message remains consistent:
Preparedness begins with calm conversations, steady information, and small steps taken early.

The new Britain Ready section supports this by offering:

• Practical guidance — simple actions anyone can take today
• Community-focused advice — how to support others without causing alarm
• Clear, accessible information — helping people understand risks and readiness

As we continue expanding our national capability, we will develop new resources, updates, and campaign materials to help the public stay informed, confident, and Britain Ready.

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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

01/06/2026

Volunteers’ Week – Civil Defence Appreciation

Every day across the UK, ordinary people choose to do something extraordinary.
This Volunteers’ Week, we celebrate the dedication, professionalism, and quiet courage of our volunteers — the individuals who step forward when their communities need them most.

From emergency response and welfare support to public safety, logistics, and community resilience, our volunteers form the backbone of our capability. They give their time, their skills, and their heart to support others, often without recognition and always without expectation.

Today, we say thank you.

Thank you to those supporting events, training hard, and standing ready.
Thank you to those who give their expertise, their compassion, and their commitment to help when needed.

You are the reason our communities are safer, stronger, and more resilient.

To every volunteer in the Joint Civil Aid Corps – National Civil Defence:
We are proud of you. We are grateful for you. We stand with you.

29/05/2026

On Monday in Milton Keynes the Joint Civil Aid Corps launched National Civil Defence Day focusing on civil defence heritage and bringing it up to date for modern Britain. We also launched Britain Ready, the Corps’ civil preparedness initiative, helping individuals, households, workplaces and communities become more confident and capable in responding to everyday disruptions and emerging risks. We do this by providing relevant information, and in time, wider opportunities to build preparedness.

• The Joint Civil Aid Corps provides broad, practical volunteer support to others on the ground during emergencies
• Britain Ready focuses on preparedness, information, and building public confidence

We welcomed Rodney Siebert, Founder and Curator Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker who kindly took part in the event.

Officers and Volunteers were joined by invited guests including Paul Trendall - Mayor of Milton Keynes, Karena Thomas - Joint Protective Services (JPS) Assistant Chief Constable, Peter Cheesman - Finance Director of the Emergency Planning Society and Jim Richardson - Assistant Director of Operations – EPRR and Special Operations, East Midlands Ambulance Service

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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

21/05/2026

We are recruiting now!

We are seeking volunteers across the United Kingdom to fill both operational and support roles.

These include:
Security, Auxiliary Fire, Medical & First Aid, Communications, Search & Rescue,
as well as Admin, HR, Finance, PR, IT & Cyber, Safeguarding, Logistics, Catering, Engineering…
Your experience can help build stronger community resilience.

If you have experience in either area or the wish to gain experience in these roles to make a difference in your local community, why not join us NOW?

Serve. Support. Make a difference.
Join us today

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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

19/05/2026

Readiness
ˈrɛdɪnɪs

NOUN

“The state of being ready or prepared, as for use or action.”

At the Joint Civil Aid Corps – National Civil Defence, readiness is not simply a definition — it is a standard we uphold every day. Our uniformed, trained, and disciplined personnel work continuously to ensure they can respond effectively, safely, and without delay whenever the public, partner agencies, or local communities need support.

To maintain this level of preparedness, many of our volunteers carry Emergency Grab Bags: purpose‑organised kits designed to keep essential personal equipment accessible, protected, and ready for immediate deployment. These bags allow volunteers to mobilise quickly while ensuring they have the correct items for safe and effective operations.

What Our Emergency Grab Bags Typically Contain.

• Personal Protective Equipment — including bump caps, helmets, high‑visibility jackets, coveralls, gloves, and eye protection, ensuring volunteers can operate safely in a wide range of environments.

• Operational Clothing — weather‑appropriate layers, waterproofs, and identification garments that maintain professionalism and visibility.

• Documentation & Identification — Corps ID, deployment cards, notebooks, and reference materials for communication and incident structure.

• Lighting & Safety Tools — torches, and other essential equipment for low‑visibility or high‑risk environments.

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Why This Matters

Maintaining a state of readiness is fundamental to our mission. It ensures that every JCAC volunteer — whether supporting a community event, assisting partner agencies, or responding to an emerging situation — can act with confidence, professionalism, and discipline.

Our approach to readiness reflects the values of the Corps:
service, resilience, pride, and preparedness.
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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

19/03/2026

💻 HOMEPAGE UPDATE – NEW FOR 2026! 📱

Have you visited our homepage recently? You might have spotted something new. As part of our 2026 Campaigns, we’ve expanded our homepage with two brand‑new information tabs, each designed to support our mission of building a safer, more resilient Britain.

🌟 Introducing Our New Tabs

🇬🇧 BritainReady and CitizenAID 🆘

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Whether you’re a volunteer, supporter, or simply someone who wants to be better prepared, these new pages offer valuable insights and practical information.

👉 Visit our homepage today and explore the latest additions!

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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

17/03/2026

Stay Connected With our social media pages.

We’re proud to share our up-to-date official & authorised social media pages. Follow any of our pages to stay updated on National news, Regionals activity, training, community engagement and more across the UK.

Facebook – National & Regional Pages:

• Joint Civil Aid Corps – National Civil Defence
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – Cymru
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – West Midlands
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – East of England
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – Yorkshire & Humberside
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – N/EPRR
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – South Central
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – South West
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – North East
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – South East Coast
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – Isle of Wight
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – London
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – North West
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – West Northern Isle
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – East Midlands
• Joint Civil Aid Corps – NI
• Civil Defence Association

Please note: Any other pages claiming to represent the JCAC are not authorised. For your safety and accuracy of information, please ensure you only follow the official pages listed above.

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LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/jcacuk/

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-civil-defence-association/

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X (formerly Twitter):
https://x.com/JCACUK?s=20

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Instagram:
jcacuk

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Follow the pages that matter most to you and stay connected with our work across the country.

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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

12/03/2026

Have a read of this in the Emergency Services Times!

Topics covered:

- From Cadets to Civil Defence
- Building a Volunteer Reserve
- Obstacles along the way
- Supporting a wide range of volunteers
- Looking ahead

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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

Caitlin Barr speaks to Unsung Hero Colin Harmsworth about the Joint Civil Aid Corps, the national volunteer organisation he set up 10 years ago to support the UK’s emergency services during major incidents and crises.