On Friday 27th March, second-year students on the Foundation Degree in Public Services course visited 'The Bunker' at Cambridgeshire County Council, Castle Hill, Cambridge. This was in relation to the module Disaster Planning, for which an assessment requires that students complete an investigation into local policies, procedures and practices for disasters (often called civil contingencies).

'The Bunker' is so-called because of its prior use as a local nuclear shelter. This function is no longer current but it is ideal for use as a base from which to co-ordinate response to, and recovery from large-scale local civil disasters, such as major flooding. Students were able to see how civil authorities, such as police, fire, ambulance and other public services, conduct their activities, and to meet with and talk to Sarah Smart, who works as a disaster-planning officer for the local authority.

The visit gave a useful local and vocational context to their university-based study, and was a pleasant way to spend the last morning before the Easter break.

 

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