Volunteers Providing 4x4 Transport and Logistics in Times of Need.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Working Together Volun Volunteers Strengthen Falkirks Severe Weather Plans Plans. 1st December 2011.
Following the assistance provided by Lothian 4x4 Response last winter to Falkirk Council in providing 4x4 Support, thus ensuring that vital home carers were able to visit their clients at home and meals were on wheels continued to be delivered This support helped to minimise any unnecessary suffering due delivered. to the severe weather. Falkirk Council has taken the initiative to bolster their severe weather plans . evere by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the team volunteers. This MOU sets .T out what each organisation expects when working together and the conditions of deployment. The team would only be expected to deploy in times of severe need when Falkirk Councils existing resources are at full stretch. The Memorandum of Understanding is a significant step forward for Lothian 4x4 Response Team in significant its development. The team, not even two years old, have worked hard to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge that allows them to offer a professional 4x4 transport and logistics service. To this end Falkirk Council assisted the team to achieve Train the Trainer Off Road 4x4 Driver Training. The teams volunteers recognise the benefit in being able to provide this training within their own group, allowing them to build their own capacity and equally important to help other organisations within the Central Scotland Strategic Coordinating Group to benefit. The Teams Volunteers have organised the first 4x4 Familiarisation Driver Training event for the 7th December. This will see some key staff from Falkirk Council who do not normally have access to 4x4 his vehicles get to share the knowledge and experience of some of the teams Volunteers This first Volunteers. course will see drivers take the vehicles that they would normally use to carry out there day to day rs business off road with the teams volunteers to enhance and strengthen the driving skills already gained. This partnership in sharing the learning between Falkirk Council and Lothian 4x4 Response Team is haring seen as an example of how the third sector and statutory bodies can come together in times of need to help the community. Malcolm Wilson, Civil Contingencies Coordinator, Falkirk Council Said: We are very pleased that this partnership approach between the Council and local volunteers is being taken forward in such a practical and useful manner. Lothian 4x4 Response team provided excellent support during the last bad weather and since then we have worked with them to build since their voluntary efforts into not only our emergency planning arrangements but also into the plans agreed across Forth Valley, with our Emergency service partners, the Red Cross and other local volunteers
Lothian 4x4 Response. C/o 44 Waverly Crescent, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 8JN. Scottish Registered Charity No: SC041830

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Volunteers Providing 4x4 Transport and Logistics in Times of Need. Colin Rodger, Team Leader, Lothian 4x4 Response Said: This is a big step forward for the team who have been working hard to ensure that the teams volunteers have all the necessary skills to be able to help in our communities in a safe and efficient manner in times of local need. Falkirk Council have consistently provided encouragement and support to the teams volunteers, we are delighted that we have been able to formalise the arrangements with this new Memorandum of Understanding. We look forward to building on the relationship with Falkirk Council and our Emergency Partners in the Forth Valley Area Ends. For further information or to attend the 4x4 Familiarisation Training please contact: Lothian 4x4 Response: Colin Rodger Chairperson/Team Leader colin.rodger@virgin.net or 07767-726075 726075 www.lothian4x4response.org Falkirk Council: Emergency Planning Department 01324-501000 http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/ 01324

Editors notes: Lothian 4x4 Response is a Scottish Registered Charity, formed in January 2010. 2010. The Teams Volunteers provide 4x4 Transport and Logistics in times of need. The Team covers the following Council areas Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, Stirling, East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian, City of Edinburgh and parts of Scottish Borders. In the severe weather at the end of 2010/201 twenty four of the teams volunteers completed 11,000 miles over 20 days assisting in the community. ver The Teams Volunteers all donate their time and vehicles to the charity. eams The Team currently numbers 35 Volunteers.

Lothian 4x4 Response. C/o 44 Waverly Crescent, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 8JN. Scottish Registered Charity No: SC041830

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