Home Office recognition & becoming a Charity
Civil Aid’s contribution was formally acknowledged in a Home Office press statement on 28 June 1972. Hansard recorded that Civil Aid had some 15,000 members, about one-third of whom were organised and trained in 249 operational units and that local authorities were advised to make the maximum possible use of voluntary effort, including NVCAS, in connection with their emergency plans.
In October 1973, Civil Aid became a registered charity and, in 1977, it was honoured by the patronage of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
Civil Aid operated on a modest budget, relying on donations and subscriptions from member units, which raised funds and maintained equipment at local level while submitting annual accounting and membership returns for charity reporting. Despite limited resources, it maintained a national footprint, a recognised training programme and a respected operational presence.
Training and Skills Development
From the outset, Civil Aid volunteers were trained in a wide range of subjects with a focus on peacetime emergencies.
These included:
• The nature of natural and man-made disasters
• First aid
• Casualty transport and care
• Light rescue
• Fire prevention
• Map reading
• Welfare support
• Emergency feeding
• Communications
• Incident management
Eric Alley OBE (Civil Defence Advisor at the Home Office) shares a joke with David Harper (President NVCAS) and Mary Harper (Emergency Feeding Officer NVCAS) by a MAFF issued Soyer boiler from Home Office stores – Twickenham 1987
Civil Aid members at a bi-annual training exercise.
A Nine Skill’s Proficiency Certificate was awarded on completion of training, together with a corresponding uniform patch. Subject to successful completion of the required standards, an Instructor Training Course was also offered. Those who completed additional training at the Home Office College at Easingwold received further recognition through an alternative instructor patch.
In 1971 a Civil Aid syllabus was included in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, and thousands of young people were taught the basic skills of disaster assistance. In 1980 Home Defence (Civil Defence) was reintroduced as a separate subject for adult volunteers and the uniform changed to a NATO navy-blue jumper with black combat trousers, or a Civil Aid sweatshirt with jeans.
The 1983 Civil Defence Act created a number of statutory functions for public bodies. Civil Aid instructors supported local authorities in delivering Civil Protection Training, including the use of RADIAC survey equipment such as the PDRM82. Light rescue teams flourished, competing in regional and national competitions well into the 1990s.
Several Civil Aid officers were also selected for training at the Civil Defence College at The Hawkhills Easingwold (later retitled the Emergency Planning College and now known as the UK Resilience Academy). They supported local authorities in protected emergency control centres and took part in Home Office exercises.
Serving Communities across the UK
Civil Aid units regularly provided services to local communities and at large festivals, including first aid, mass feeding, sanitation, fire cover and temporary communications, often as part of Festival Welfare Services. Civil Aid was approved by the Health and Safety Executive as a First Aid at Work training provider, which helped to generate income alongside event catering and first aid cover.
Civil Aid instructors also contributed internationally, delivering first aid and light rescue training in Europe and supporting civil protection development overseas.
Over time, local emergency planners increasingly recognised Civil Aid as a valuable resource. Units were called out to rendezvous points established by the emergency services and assisted at floods, flash storms, train crashes, terrorist bombings, police searches for missing children and evacuations. These incidents were localised, but for those they affected they were nonetheless disasters – and Civil aid volunteers were there.
Civil Aid members at a bi-annual training exercise in Essex 1983
Simon Hill FICPEM (Chairman NVCAS) at a Rescue Instructors Course Dublin 1987
Civil Aid Unit at a community event
Civil Aid member Terry Carter (Bicester Unit) at casualty clearing station (forward medical aid unit) during Exercise Overspill at Sewstern 1984.