The Informed Prepared Together Project

The Informed Prepared Together Project hopes to inspire countries across the European Union and European Economic Area to recognise the added value of using all available resources to build and improve individual, community and national resilience in civil protection - from the individual citizen through volunteer, to voluntary and statutory organisations.

The Informed Prepared Together Project built on and endeavoured to maximise the impact of past European Commission funded projects and local, national and international initiatives that focus on:

• Increasing the capacity and capability of citizens
• Integrating the contribution of citizens, volunteers and voluntary organisations
• Working together to build and improve community resilience.

The project has sought to bring to life some recurring and salient points from past projects, turning these into the Informed. Prepared. Together. family of products and resources. This family of products and resources is intended to support countries and organisations in informing, preparing and engaging citizens and communities to work together in civil protection.

More information about the project and its findings can be found in the project summary.

The family of products and resources includes principles and guidance for governments and organisations on the human aspects of emergencies and disasters, games and puzzles for children, attractive booklets, leaflets, a calender and cards providing useful tips and advice to involve citizens and this website with its online resource library. All the products can be found on and downloaded from this website.

The project was led by the Red Cross / EU Office in Brussels, and has been co-financed by the European Commission. It began in January 2008 and was completed in June 2009.

The project was carried out in three phases:

• During the preparatory phase, the project researched past projects and initiatives, compiled the findings and formulated a first draft of the guidance for governments and organisations. These initial results were presented and developed during a two-day workshop in Brussels in October 2008, attended by 23 persons, including past project leaders and the European Commission.
• In the second phase, the Informed. Prepared. Together. Conference (Report .pdf) took place in York, England, in February 2009. 73 representatives from 24 European Union and European Economic Area countries gathered, to reflect and comment on draft guidance, ideas for products and the website. Participants offered suggestions for improvement and recommended effective communication and dissemination methods.
• During the final phase, the guidance, website and family of products were designed and refined, further tested in a sample of five countries and finalised. These have all emerged under the brand name Informed. Prepared. Together. The website and products are being made available widely across the European Union and European Economic Area.

To view the description of the Informed. Prepared. Together. family of products and resources, click here.

The Informed Prepared Together Project Team

The Informed Prepared Together Project Team comprised:

• Moya Wood-Heath, the Project Leader and Civil Protection Advisor to the Red Cross / European Union Office and British Red Cross
• Suzanne Pinder, the Project Co-ordinator and Researcher
• Alina Müller, the Project Event Administrator and Website Advisor.

The project team was supported by the Core Group; members were chosen for their particular expertise and involvement in past projects and initiatives and included:

• Martin Annis, British Red Cross
• Barbara Blanckmeister, Technisches Hilfswerk, Germany
• Judit Fórizs, Hungarian Red Cross
• Mick Free, Association of Chief Police Officers, United Kingdom
• Magda Rooze, Impact Foundation, Netherlands
• Hripsimé Torossian, French Red Cross

The team is extremely grateful to all those individuals and organisations who have given such unfailing assistance throughout the project. Many people in government, private sector, voluntary and non-governmental organisations, academia, the Red Cross / European Union Office and the wider Red Cross network have been very generous and kind with their expertise, guidance and time.

For further information contact us.