Community resilience groups in Richmond invite you to a free fair

Community resilience groups in Richmond are hosting a free fair on Saturday 10 October, bringing together council services, voluntary organisations and emergency partners in one place. If you have ever wondered how to prepare for flooding, support a vulnerable neighbour during severe weather, or simply find out who does what when things go wrong, this is your chance to ask the people who know.

The Community Resilience Fair takes place against a backdrop of increasingly frequent severe weather and the recognition that neighbourly support makes all the difference in a crisis.

What you will find at the fair

The fair brings together everyone involved in keeping Richmond safe under one roof.

You will meet representatives from council services, the emergency services, health resilience teams and local voluntary organisations who work together when severe weather or other emergencies strike. Interactive workshops will cover practical topics including flood awareness, emergency preparedness for your household, and how to check on and support vulnerable people in your street. The event is designed for all ages, so you can bring family members and turn emergency planning into something the whole household understands.

Knowing who to call and what to do before an emergency happens takes the panic out of the moment itself.

Why community resilience matters here

Richmond's riverside location and green spaces make it a wonderful place to live, but also leave parts of the borough vulnerable to flooding and storm damage.

Recent years have seen more frequent periods of extreme weather, from heavy rainfall that overwhelms drainage systems to heatwaves that put pressure on health services. The council and its partners have learned that the most resilient communities are those where neighbours know each other, where people understand local risks, and where voluntary networks are already in place before a crisis hits. This fair is part of that preparation, helping you understand both the borough-wide systems in place and the small actions you can take at home.

Resilience is not about living in fear, it is about living with confidence that you and your neighbours are ready.

How we got here

2026

Severe flooding in parts of Richmond prompts council review of emergency response coordination

2026

Richmond Council partners with voluntary sector to develop community resilience framework

10 October 2026

First borough-wide Community Resilience Fair takes place

The fair is being organised in partnership with organisations including Richmond Aid, the local branch of the British Red Cross, and Richmond Council’s emergency planning team. These are the same groups who coordinated welfare support during the 2026 flooding and who run the borough’s severe weather response system.

How to get involved beyond the fair

The fair is also a recruitment opportunity for local volunteering schemes that support emergency response.

You will find information about joining community emergency response groups, signing up as a volunteer to help vulnerable residents during extreme weather, and connecting with neighbourhood networks that coordinate local support. Many of these groups need people who can commit just a few hours during an actual emergency, not ongoing weekly volunteering, so the time commitment is manageable even for busy households. If you have ever thought about helping out but were not sure where to start, this is your entry point.

The strongest safety net is the one woven by people who already know their street.

What this means for you

The fair runs on Saturday 10 October, and you can drop in at any point to speak to the organisations and attend whichever workshops interest you. If you live in a flood-risk area, near the Thames or close to one of the borough’s brooks, make a point of visiting the flood awareness stall to understand your specific risks and get sandbag information. If you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours, ask about the council’s severe weather welfare checks and how you can be part of the local support network. Pick up a household emergency plan template so you can sit down with your family and work out what you would actually do if the power went out for 48 hours or flooding closed your usual route home. The event is free, no booking required, and designed to be practical rather than alarming.

Emergency preparedness works best when it is shared across a community, not left to individual households working in isolation. This fair gives you the knowledge, the contacts and the confidence to play your part.

The fair marks a shift from reactive emergency response to proactive community preparation, reflecting lessons learned from recent extreme weather events across the borough.

Frequently asked questions

Where and when is the Community Resilience Fair?

The fair takes place on Saturday 10 October 2026. Check the council website for the specific venue and opening hours, as these details will be confirmed closer to the date.

Do I need to book a place or can I just turn up?

You can simply turn up on the day. The fair is free and open to all residents, with no need to register in advance.

Is the fair suitable for children?

Yes, the event is described as family-friendly. Involving children in age-appropriate emergency planning helps them feel safer and more confident if something does happen.

What should I bring with me?

Just bring any questions you have about emergency preparedness. You may want to bring a notebook if you plan to attend workshops, and a bag for any leaflets or resources you pick up.

I am not sure if my area is at risk of flooding. Will someone be able to tell me?

Yes, the flood awareness teams at the fair will have maps showing flood risk zones across the borough. Bring your postcode and they can give you specific information about your street.

Useful resources

• https://www.gov.uk/check-flood-risk