Mission
“CIVIL DEFENCE IS COMMON SENSE” - This is one of the rally cries from the Second World War but is as relevant today as then.
“Mitigation, Preparation, Response, Recovery”
The Joint Civil Aid Corps (the Corps) is a National Civil Defence (Emergency Support) organisation that aims to provide a disciplined voluntary reserve to the Emergency Services, Government, and other authorities. It will have trained volunteers able to meet the needs of communities across the country, and our official Purpose states that we exist “in order to fulfil the aim of the protection of life and property”, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
The Corps is about people: how we see people, how we open our organisation to all, how we give opportunities for people to be a part of something. There are many unemployed people, lonely people, people without direction, people wanting to help, wanting to be seen, to feel wanted. There are many charities and organisations that focus on many social issues, and there are many people that still slip through the cracks. Many of these will not ask for help and support for varying reasons, but what the Corps can offer is for these people to gain help and support through their own efforts. The heart of the Corps will be its camaraderie. The same that is found in the emergency services and military – the sense of family and being a part of something that matters.
Category
Disaster Relief
Additional Information
Our guiding Principles are:
• Our concept of ‘ONE PEOPLE’, regardless of the labels Society chooses to place on people and groups. Everyone’s beliefs, cultural background, and lifestyle is personal to each individual and should be respected as such. Barriers are formed from labelling people due to differences. Removing the labels helps to remove barriers.
• Our expectation that inclusion and integration throughout all communities is the way forward in a Society that professes to be multi-cultural and must always be encouraged.
• Our desire to make each community self-reliant and capable of supporting itself in times of need from the young to senior. Coordinated Community Resilience is at the very heart of the Corps, and the opportunity it seeks to provide communities wherever they are.
• Our belief that there is a place for everyone wishing to be a part of the Corps, with roles available to suit the capabilities of our volunteers. We take a common-sense and honest approach to the appointments of roles, with growth and development encouraged at all times.
• We feel that having disabilities or learning difficulties should not form a barrier to being a part of the Corps. A common-sense approach will be taken on an individual basis to ensure all have the opportunity to participate in a way to suit their capabilities.
• Our belief in Cooperation and Coordination, not Competition and Ignorance.
• Our concept of ‘Bondship’ is the heart of the Corps – this is the camaraderie forged through training and working together operationally, and where bonds develop. It is the trust and respect the Corps encourages daily within its members and throughout its actions. This is a concept experienced by all members of the civil and military career services, and through example extended to all members of the Corps.
The purpose of civil defence is to provide preparations for and actual assistance to individuals, groups, or communities in need of immediate assistance as a result of natural or man-made events, and whether large or small, wartime or not.
The Corps is a unique addition to voluntary support in the modern society. There is an outstanding heritage in Civil Defence that has been allowed to be forgotten, but what is key to contemporary Civil Defence is that all members, both operational and support, are trained as Generalists (Community Emergency Responders). This means they make an effective addition to the professional services as soon as they are logged on scene at an incident, taking on many tasks that will release the professional responders to undertake the responsibilities their training and experience requires.
The uniqueness of the Corps as a Civil Defence organisation comes from its structure, open arms to all in the belief there is a role for everyone, and its dispersal of trained units from the smallest of communities to the largest of cities. The three arms of the Corps take into consideration all ages, family and work responsibilities, and both operational and support aspirations.
Volunteers can specialise in any one of over 40 trades, or even take on additional training in other skills, but regardless of whether operational or support, all will be trained as Generalists.
As a national project, it will promote and encourage Community Cohesiveness through capacity building in Community Resilience, and it is through our training that barriers will come down as people build relationships, understanding, respect, and confidence.
The Corps takes a common-sense approach to recruitment and will do all it can to ensure that those who wish to be a part of it, have that opportunity. With over 40 trades, there will be someway people can participate and trained to succeed.
