Fire and Rescue Services in England attended around 15,000 flood-related incidents last year, and rescued or evacuated around 1,000 people from flood waters. On average around 170 people a year are rescued from inside or on top of a vehicle surrounded by water. Driving through flood water is the number one cause of death during flooding, with storm selfies and wave watching also recorded as causes of death.

As winter hits, the Environment Agency is encouraging people to protect themselves in a flood by with the ‘Prepare Act Survive’ plan – by checking flood warnings, taking practical actions such as moving valuable possessions to safety, and not taking dangerous risks.

In September, dramatic footage was posted online of a woman trapped in her car on a flooded road in Yorkshire. In a heroic rescue, a passer-by was able to smash her car window and pull her from the vehicle to safety moments before the car became submerged.

But it’s not only drivers that could be at risk as a result of more extreme weather. Serah Cullinan-Stooks’ family home was flooded in West Yorkshire during the Boxing Day floods in 2015, it took a year to repair the damage that was done to the family’s Georgian house with floodwaters having risen to nine feet into their home.

The mother-of-three said:

Until it has happened to you, no one can have any idea of the destruction an event like that can cause or the huge impact on your life. It was really tough on our children, they were very distressed by it all.

This week, the government published new climate change projections which show that sea levels are set to rise over this century and more frequent, extreme weather requires urgent action. This means that knowing your flood risk and understanding what action to take in a flood is more important than ever.

Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said:

Knowing what to do in a flood could save your life and keep the people that you care about safe. Taking some simple steps to prepare in advance could prevent thousands of pounds of damage to your home and your possessions.

We urge people, wherever they live, to look at the Prepare Act Survive plan and find out how to how to protect themselves and their homes.

Dawn Whittaker, NFCC Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Lead said:

Unfortunately fire and rescue services are often called to incidents where people have just underestimated the risks posed by flood water.

Floods can quickly turn into life-threatening situations so NFCC ask that people listen to advice and avoid entering flood water whether on foot or in a vehicle.

The Environment Agency is spending more than £2.6billion to build flood schemes around the country which will better protect 300,000 homes by 2021. This winter, the EA is prepared to take action wherever it is needed, with an arsenal of kit which includes 40km of flood barriers and 250 high volume pumps which are ready to be moved to communities that need them in a flood whilst also working more closely with partners such as the Fire & Rescue Service.

To find out more about what to do in a flood visit what to do in a flood on Gov.uk.

Lord Bourne visits Schools Linking Programme in Luton aimed at promoting community cohesion between pupils.

Faith Minister Lord Bourne visited the Stockwood Discovery Centre in Luton today (29 November 2018) to see first-hand the work of a government funded programme, to help school kids learn more about different faiths and backgrounds in their local communities.

The minister joined pupils from a wide variety of backgrounds taking in part in a Schools Linking Programme at the Centre.

Jointly funded with the Department for Education with support from the Pears Foundation, the Schools Linking Programme currently engages with 18,000 children and young people from different backgrounds across the country and provides sustained opportunities for them to meet, build new relationships, work together and contribute to their wider neighbourhoods.

These opportunities include taking part in competitive sports to boost team-working skills, creating collaborative artwork and community volunteering.

Faith Minister Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth said:

Schools Linking is a great example of how children and young people from different backgrounds can come together to meet, learn and share interests that help them prepare for life in modern Britain and make them great citizens of the future.

The government is determined to support programmes such as these to ensure young people from all backgrounds have the opportunity to take part in challenging and rewarding experiences.

In March this year, the government set out an ambitious long-term plan of action to tackle the root causes of poor integration and create a stronger, more united Britain.

The Integrated Communities Strategy green paper, to which £50 million will be committed over the next 2 years, sought views on the government’s bold proposals to boost English language skills, increase opportunities for more women to enter the workplace, and promote British values and meaningful discussion between young people.

Case studies on the success of the Schools Linking Programme

Heaton St Barnabas Church of England Primary School, Bradford and Nessfield Primary School, Keighley

St Barnabas Primary School and Nessfield Primary School started a new link between all 120 of their Year 4 pupils this year (2018). The children met at their local outdoor centre to take part in collaborative activities which helped them find common ground through shared interests including art and poetry. As the children continue to develop their shared interests, facilitators can stimulate dialogue and help children find out more about one another.

Armitage Church of England Primary School, Manchester and North Cheshire Jewish Primary School, Stockport

Pupils from 2 Year 3 classes in each school exchanged names of class members prior to their first meeting. From this exercise the children noticed that they had both different names and different interests and hobbies. There was much excitement for 2 boys who shared the same name which later led to the foundations of a new friendship. As they celebrate their differences the 2 boys look forward to their next opportunity to meet and build on their relationship.

Further information

The Linking Network

The Schools Linking programme is led by the Linking Network charity. It supports schools and communities to develop a positive, cohesive ethos by helping children and young people to explore identity, celebrate diversity, promote community and champion equality.

Working in 26 areas across the country, the Network in partnership with local authorities and charities directly delivers school linking programmes by supporting local schools with guidance for facilitators, training for teachers and tried and tested classroom resources.

A fishing trip cost a Gloucester man more than £800 after he was caught fishing in the closed season and without a licence.

Following a joint patrol with the Environment Agency, Angling Trust and Gloucestershire Police, Frank Cole was found guilty in his absence at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on 26 November for fishing during the closed season and fishing without a licence on the River Severn on 31 May 2018. A charge that the 52-year old of Bibury Road, Gloucester, failed to give his name and address to an Environment Agency bailiff when requested to do so, was also proved. Magistrates fined him £660 in total, and imposed costs of £127.47 and a victim surcharge of £30. Angling is not allowed during the closed season in order to protect spawning fish stocks.

A spokesperson from the Environment Agency said:

Working with the Angling Trust’s Voluntary Bailiffs and Gloucestershire Police is a great way we can jointly tackle rural and wildlife crime.

Dilip Sarkar MBE, Angling Trust National Enforcement Manager added:

Part of the overall partnership enforcement strategy is raising awareness of the crucial need to report incidents to the police and Environment Agency. This case was detected because information was provided to our Fisheries Enforcement Support Service by anglers. This was passed on to the authorities who worked together to decisively deal with the offender. This is a perfect example of team-work in action.

Working with partners is an essential way the Environment Agency works to tackle illegal fishing. In partnership with the Angling Trust, there are Voluntary Bailiffs in action across the country helping us keep watch on their local waters and report incidents. The Environment Agency also works closely with local police as part of the overarching National Wildlife Crime Unit initiative, to tackle wildlife and rural crime.

An annual fishing licence costs just £30, yet a small number of anglers continue to flout the law and risk prosecution for fishing without a licence and breaching byelaws in place to protect fish stocks.

Money from fishing licence sales is invested in England’s fisheries and is used to fund a wide range of projects to improve facilities for anglers including; protecting stocks from illegal fishing, pollution and disease, restoring fish stocks through re-stocking, eradicating invasive species and fish habitat improvements. Fishing licence money is also used to fund the Angling Trust to provide information about fishing, to encourage participation in the sport and to manage a voluntary bailiff scheme.

Children under 13 fish for free. Anyone aged 13 to 16 also fish for free, but they do need to have a valid Environment Agency fishing licence. Anyone over 16 must pay for an Environment Agency fishing licence to fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel in England.

Anyone witnessing illegal fishing can report it directly to the Environment Agency hotline, 0800 80 70 60. Information on illegal fishing and environmental crime can also be reported anonymously to Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111.