This morning, Team Call Out members Paul Copley and Nick Berry (Our Team Equipment Officer, Ropes and Stretchers) attended at the kind invitation of Bolton Council, a day long course regarding Multi Agency Introduction to Civil Contingencies.

This is the fifth time the team has attended this course, the first being 15th June 2010, when our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE attended, followed by the 23rd November 2010 course when our Team Training Officer at the time, Elaine Gilliland and Team Vehicles Officer Chris Greenhalgh attended, Thursday 13th September 2012, when our Catering and Base Officer at the time Chris Tennant attended, and Thursday 11th April 2013, when our Team Treasurer Martin Banks attended.

Held at the excellent venue of the Musgrave House at Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton, the course attracted many participants from the statutory and voluntary emergency sector and agencies, including very knowledgeable course facilitators and session presenters.

The course objectives included;

• To understand the context and implications of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the statutory duties it places on Category 1 and 2 responders.
• To become familiar with the role of all agencies involved in planning, preparing for and responding to emergencies.
• To share knowledge and understanding with other local agencies.
• To learn from previous experiences of responding to emergencies.

The team would like to thank the Civil Contingencies Unit of Bolton Council for yet again very kindly providing us with placements on this valuable and topical course.

The following account has been provided by Paul Copley;

“We arrived and were met by Cath Nally and Debbie Hinsley, who then
allocated tables each with a mixture of attendees from GMP, GMFRS, NWAS and other voluntary agencies such as RAYNET and the British Red Cross.”

“Inbetween presentations from facilitators including as usual a informative and amusing one from Mike Dewar of GMFRS, all the members present participated in a highly competitive quiz.”

“An interesting and enjoyable day full of vital information which helped all parties understand how they collaborate should a serious incident happen.”

“Myself and Nick would like to thank Cath Nally for the invitation to attend and to all the persons present for making the day a success.”

Please also see website ‘News’ items dated 15th June 2010, 23rd November 2010, 13th September 2012, 11th April 2013 and 21st April 2013.