Volunteering

We need volunteers to help keep communities safe during an incident.

Become a Flood Warden - Join one of our online information sessions

Want to know how Volunteer Flood Wardens help to support their local communities before, during and after flooding incidents - and how to get involved?

If you're interested in making a difference where you live, the Local Resilience Partnership (part of the Local Resilience Forum) is running a short online webinar, where you can find out more about the role of Volunteer Flood Warden and how to sign up.

(The webinar will be repeated monthly from January - May 2025 - see details below.)

What is a Volunteer Flood Warden?

Flood Wardens are trusted local volunteers who play a key role in helping communities prepare for, and respond to, flooding. The role is non-operational and focuses on awareness, communication and community resilience, rather than physical flood response. Flood Wardens should never enter flood water.

As a Volunteer Flood Warden, you may be asked to:

  • act as a local point of contact for flood information in your community
  • help share official warnings and advice from organisations such as the Environment Agency and Leicestershire County Council
  • support residents to understand flood risk
  • support community recovery following flooding, where appropriate

Webinars: What to expect

The online webinars are designed to give you a clear understanding of:

  • the role of a Volunteer Flood Warden
  • time commitment and expectations
  • training and support available
  • how the role fits into wider flood response arrangements

Each session lasts about two hours (including a short break and an opportunity to ask questions). Attendance is informal and does not commit you to becoming a volunteer.

Who can become a Flood Warden?

You can apply to become a Volunteer Flood Warden if you:

  • are aged 18 or over
  • live or work in Leicestershire
  • have an interest in supporting your local community and improving flood resilience
  • are confident communicating with residents, community groups and partner organisations
  • are able to use basic digital tools, including email and mobile or web-based applications such as Assemble, which are used to receive updates, share information and support volunteering activities
  • are willing and able to complete online training packages, which form part of the initial induction and ongoing refresher training
  • have access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer with an internet connection

No specialist knowledge or previous flood experience is required. The role is designed to be flexible and to be manageable alongside work and personal commitments. Full training, guidance and ongoing support will be provided by Leicestershire County Council.

Volunteer Flood Wardens are covered by the county council's volunteer arrangements, including appropriate insurance, when registered.

How to book your place

Click on one of the links below to join the Flood Warden information webinar on Microsoft Teams. 
(You only need to attend one session. No preparation is required.)

Flood Warden online information session 1 - Monday 18 January, 6 - 8pm
Flood Warden online information session 2 - Monday 16 February, 6 - 8pm
Flood Warden online information session 3 - Monday 23 March, 6 - 8pm
Flood Warden online information session 4 - Monday 20 April, 6 - 8pm
Flood Warden online information session 5 - Monday 11 May, 6 - 8pm

Further information

All essential information about the role, training, expectations and support will be provided during the webinar. For this reason, we kindly ask that you attend a session before making further enquiries.

We look forward to welcoming you and explaining how Volunteer Flood Wardens help build safer, more resilient communities across Leicestershire.

 

Voluntary sector partners

Alternatively, you can join one of the organisations we call upon in the event of an emergency:

  • British Red Cross
    • Helping the emergency services
    • Providing emergency centre volunteers
    • Supporting with door-to-door visits
  • Salvation Army
    • Providing emergency centre volunteers
    • Catering
    • Counselling
  • Leicestershire Search and Rescue
    • Assisting in the search and rescue of vulnerable and missing people
  • Samaritans
    • Providing emotional support
  • RSPCA
    • Rescuing and caring for animals
  • Leicestershire & Rutland 4x4 Response
    • Assisting when conditions are fit only for 4-wheel driving, often in times of flooding and snow
    • Rescuing trapped people
    • Transporting district nurses
    • Delivering meals
  • Raynet
    • Providing the Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network
    • Backing up communications
    • Working alongside officers who may not have direct communications
  • REACT
    • Highly trained volunteer responders helping people in crisis during incidents
    • Specialising in fast-moving and complicated emergencies
  • St John Ambulance
    • Providing First Aid training
    • Recruiting volunteers to help save lives
  • Rapid Relief Team
    • Offering quality catering assistance and support to charities, government and emergency services
  • Joint Civil Aid Corps
    • Providing a disciplined voluntary reserve to emergency services, government and other authorities
    • Trained volunteers meeting the needs of communities across the country
  • Leicestershire and Rutland Blood Bikes
    • Supporting health organisations in Leicestershire and Rutland, as well as our local Air Ambulance
    • Free out of hours movement of blood, blood samples, human milk and other medical supplies
  • Voluntary Action LeicesterShire
    • Providing volunteering opportunities in Leicester and Leicestershire
  • Citizens’ Advice Rutland
    • Providing volunteering opportunities in Rutland
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