14 Annual Review 2026 15 I want to engage with as many people as possible, and we hope to have a Carlisle-wide plan in place by the beginning of 2027, Niall said: “We’ll have regular training, acting out real life scenarios in a realistic but fun way. I’d love to create a board game, where you can work through the plan, so it won’t just be a written document. “Carlisle is a continually growing city, with an increasing diversity, but a community that comes together to help each other when needed. I feel like this project provides opportunities to bring people together, provide reassurance and collectively prepare for any future crisis.” Carlisle resident Susan agreed: “We always get things sorted in an emergency and look out for each other, but it’s good to be really prepared, and having someone bring us together with other residents to talk about developing a plan is going to mean we are ready for whatever might happen in the future.” Carlisle Community Resilience Officer Images of Brunton Park, Carlisle Civic Centre and other landmarks marooned by acres of floodwater live clear in the minds of most Cumbrians. Between 2005 and 2015, three major floods devastated communities across the county. Lives were upended – and in some tragic cases, lost – and the scars run deep. Since Storm Desmond flooded more than 5,500 Cumbrian homes, 1,000 businesses and 600 farms in December 2015, much has been done to prevent and mitigate against future disasters. For many communities building their resilience to future flooding has been key. Helen Fisher, Manager of Botcherby Community Centre in Carlisle, was surprised to discover that this long-term response varied across the county. “I went along to an event to hear more about local resilience work and was surprised there wasn't an emergency plan in Carlisle. “It felt important that, as a community centre that has been directly affected by flooding, we did something to help Carlisle be ready for future shocks.” Helen applied to Cumbria Community Foundation and secured funding from CiFR Community Flood Resilience Fund for the role of Carlisle Community Resilience Officer. The fund forms part of the wider Cumbria Innovative Flood Resilience Programme. that is funded by DEFRA, managed by the Environment Agency and delivered locally by Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils. Niall McNulty was appointed to the role earlier this year and is wasting no time in getting out and gathering opinions from people across the city. “The main point of this new role is to draw up a Carlisle Emergency Resilience Plan,” he explained. “Other communities across Cumbria affected by flooding have not just emergency plans but emergency response groups. Although Carlisle residents meet emergency challenges face on, the city doesn't currently have any formal response groups or emergency plan in place.” Working from a central base and reaching people through local community locations, Niall will develop a city-wide flood resilience plan, followed by tailored plans for each area most affected by flooding. Botcherby and Warwick Road will serve as the pilot areas, helping to test and refine the approach before it is rolled out more widely. He explained: “I’ll be asking communities what they need to respond to any future shocks, as we want the new plan to be led and owned by the voices of the people who live in the local areas.” One Botcherby resident, Graham, is fully on board with the idea. “I was surprised that we haven't got an emergency plan in Carlisle, but I really like that we, as residents, are going to be part of developing it,” he said. “We are the people who are affected so it feels right we get to inform what the plan looks like.” Niall will ask residents questions such as “Where do you feel the safest?”, “Where do you get your trusted information from in an emergency?” and “Who would be the trusted community leaders you would listen to in a crisis?” As well as geographical communities, the consultation will also involve communities such as young people, the refugee population and church groups. The emergency resilience plan will not only help communities prepare for flooding, but also for other emergencies such as food shortages, power outages and future pandemics. ACTING ON CLIMATE CHANGE Creating stronger and more resilient communities FUNDER SPOTLIGHT Cumbria Local Resilience Forum is made up of a wide range of organisations, working together to prepare for, respond to, and recover from major emergencies or incidents in Cumbria. The Forum launched the new £300,000 Cumbria Community Resilience Fund this year to strengthen how communities support one another before, during and after an emergency. Ben Ryder, Chair of the Local Resilience Forum, said: “Community resilience is a crucial part of how Cumbria prepares for and responds to emergencies. “This grant programme recognises the knowledge, commitment and leadership that already exists in our communities, and provides practical support to help strengthen local preparedness.” The grant funding will enable communities to build practical resilience to emergencies, strengthen local response and test innovative ideas. The Fund is funded through the Local Resilience Forum Trailblazer Programme by the UK Government, led by the Cumbria Combined Authority, and managed by Cumbria Community Foundation. Niall McNulty
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