More than 100 young people from across Humberside have become the first in the country to earn the brand-new BeFloodReady badge, following an exciting day of hands-on activities at Raywell Park Activity Centre!

The special event took place during Flood Action Week, bringing together Scouts aged four to 17 from Market Weighton, Melbourne, Pocklington, Stamford Bridge and Winterton to discover more about flooding, its impact on communities and how we can all be better prepared.

Supported by flood resilience professionals and organisations from across the country, the free event gave young people the chance to learn from experts, get stuck into practical challenges and develop important skills for life.

Getting Hands-On with Flood Preparedness!

There was plenty to see, do and discover throughout the day, with a fantastic range of interactive activities designed to bring flood preparedness to life.

Young people had the opportunity to:

  • Explore an interactive sandbox, discovering how natural flood management can help reduce flooding.
  • Build flood barriers, learning how homes and communities can be protected when water levels rise.
  • Take on a hook-a-duck water safety challenge, exploring how to stay safe around water.
  • Experiment with a water wall, discovering how non-return valves can help prevent floodwater entering properties.
  • Test the ‘Dry as a Bone Cottage’, using buckets of water to see how an automatic flood barrier works.
  • Explore STEM models, investigating how flooding happens and the different ways we can manage flood risk.
  • Prepare for an emergency, learning about the essential items families might need if flooding occurs.

Everyone also took part in a water safety awareness session and enjoyed a reading of Missy and Stanley’s Tale, a children’s story following a cat and dog as they experience flooding at home.

 

Collecting Stamps and Earning Badges!

As they made their way around the activities, young people collected stamps in their very own Flood Passports, with ten special bronze stamps produced by CARO Group for the occasion.

Each activity helped participants understand different types of flooding, the effects on people and places, and the steps they can take to prepare, respond and recover.

After completing their challenges, everyone was presented with the brand-new BeFloodReady 2026 blanket badge, becoming the first young people to achieve this exciting new award!

 

Skills for Life That Make a Difference

For our young people, the day was about much more than earning a badge. It was an opportunity to ask questions, work together, solve problems and discover practical ways to help keep themselves, their families and their communities safe.

Vikki McCausland, Cub Scout Team Leader with 1st Pocklington Scout Group, said:

“The activities made flooding feel real for our young people.

“They asked lots of questions and started thinking about what it could mean for their own homes and families. Earning their badge gave them something to be proud of, alongside useful knowledge to take away.

“The day was fun and informative and really gave them a chance to work together, learn from experts and discover practical ways to be flood ready.”

The event was also welcomed by Floods Minister Emma Hardy, who praised the new badge for encouraging young people to understand the impact of flooding and develop awareness of how to prepare for it.

 

A Huge Thank You!

The event was made possible thanks to an incredible collaboration of flood resilience professionals, emergency services and volunteers who generously shared their time, knowledge and expertise.

From practical demonstrations and interactive challenges to specialist equipment and educational resources, their support helped make the day a memorable experience for everyone involved.

A huge thank you to all the organisations and volunteers who helped deliver the activities, and to everyone who contributed to making the event such a success.

Most importantly, a massive well done to all our young people who took part! We’re incredibly proud that Humberside Scouts have been the first to achieve this new badge, demonstrating once again how Scouting helps young people develop skills for life.

 

Helping More Young People BeFloodReady

Following the success of the event at Raywell Park, the BeFloodReady badge is now available to Scouts, Guides, Brownies, Cadets and other youth organisations across the country.

The ambition is for flood preparedness activities to become a regular part of Flood Action Week each October, helping even more young people understand flood risk and learn how to be prepared.

Interested in bringing BeFloodReady to your group? Visit www.befloodready.uk for more information or email Shelley.Evans@jbaconsulting.com to register your interest.