Emergency Response Challenge FAQs
What’s an Emergency Response?
Every year more than 60 million children are caught up in emergencies. When emergencies strike, children are amongst the most at risk.
In an instant, a child may lose their home, community, security and even their family. They may be injured, afraid, have travelled a long way to get help, have no food to eat or clean water to drink.
We provide food, water, medical care if they’re ill and safe places to learn, play and just be children. We help them get back a sense of safety and normality, so they can recover from what they’ve been through.
What’s the Emergency Response Challenge?
It’s your chance to find out what you would do in the toughest circumstances — and raise money for children already living in them.
You’ll get a unique insight into our emergency response work saving children’s lives, while testing your own physical and mental resilience.
Led by our experienced emergency staff, over the course of a weekend, you’ll be thrown into a simulated emergency situation that is fast-paced and constantly changing. You’ll have to think on your feet, be prepared to make difficult decisions and work as part of a diverse team.
Who runs the event?
The weekend will be run by experienced Save the Children emergency response staff.
Could I get hurt?
The Emergency Response Challenge involves physical and mental pressure. We’ll make sure you’re aware of any hazards you may encounter, so you can make informed decisions about your participation. Save The Children has a duty to eliminate or reduce the risks involved. You must, in turn, look after yourself and others.
You’ll need to understand and follow safety instructions. You should be medically fit. If you’re in any doubt about your fitness to take part, please consult your doctor — especially if you have epilepsy, diabetes, recurrent blackouts or dizziness, fits or allergies. If you have any of the medical conditions mentioned above and your doctor is happy for you to take part, you must inform Save the Children prior to the event. If you are pregnant we are unable to allow you to take part.
What will I get out of it?
You’ll be tested, mentally and physically. You’ll need to constantly assess, monitor and react to an ever-changing situation while you work to save children’s lives.
You’ll have the opportunity to experience first hand the complexities of running an emergency response.
You’ll get an inside look at what happens on the ground during emergency response to put children’s safety first, and the skills our emergency workers need, every day.
You’ll get the satisfaction of knowing the money you raise will go directly to our emergency work and your experience will show you the impact it makes.
When is it?
The event will run from 18.00 on Friday until 16.00 on Sunday.
How much does it cost?
Places cost £50 and each participant must pledge to raise a minimum of £500.
What happens to the money I raise?
The money you raise will go to our Children’s Emergency Fund. Having the funds in place before an emergency hits means our emergency response teams don’t lose precious time waiting for public or government support.
The quicker Save the Children can respond to an emergency, the more lives we save.
The £500 you raise could provide:
- 50 tarpaulins for temporary shelter in the event of an emergency
- 30 child friendly spaces catering for 900 children, to give them a safe place to play after a disaster devastates their lives
- clean drinking water for 250 families
When an emergency hits, we rely on your support to get help to the people who need it most — and to keep on helping. We don’t just deliver immediate aid; we also work together with communities to prepare for them.
How do I get there?
The emergency will take place in a secret location. We want this experience to be as realistic as possible — and we never know where or when disaster will strike.
Six weeks before your deployment you’ll be assigned a meeting point and you’ll need to make your own way there. Our drivers will take you to the emergency site.
What would I need to bring?
Accommodation and meals will be provided (starting with breakfast on Saturday morning). But food and living conditions will be basic, just like they would be during a real disaster.
You will need to bring your own basic kit, like outdoor clothing, with you. A full list of what you’ll need will be sent to you before your deployment.
Sounds great — how do I sign up?
Send in your entry form (PDF 1MB) and fee, and we’ll contact you to let you know you’re on our Emergency Response Challenge team.
