This evening, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, and colleague Bolton MRT team member Steve O’Hara
attended the third meeting of the Greater Manchester 3rd Sector (Voluntary Agencies) which as with the previous two meetings was held and hosted by the British Red Cross at its Cornbrook Estate, Manchester, offices.

The aims of the Greater Manchester 3rd Sector (Voluntary Agencies) Group are to provide a forum to maximise the contribution of the Voluntary Agencies and Faith Communities to resilience planning and response in the Greater Manchester conurbation, including Manchester Airport.

The meeting was Chaired by the British Red Cross. Also in attendance were representatives from North West 4×4 (Chairman and Training Officer) Civil Contingencies Officer from AGMA (Association of Greater Manchester Authorities), the Regional Emergency Operations Officer for St John Ambulance, Emergency Response Manager for the Salvation Army and Electricity North West.

Apologies were received from Greater Manchester RAYNET, Rotary, Manchester Airport Chaplaincy, RVS and the Jewish Emergency team.

This meeting is the latest in a series of predecessor meetings over a great many years, previously attended by Peter Hyde of Oldham MRT, and occasionally by our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE which has seen the various voluntary agencies working in Greater Manchester come together to discuss items of mutual interest in cases of emergency eg; flooding; gas explosions; major fires and severe weather.

Tonight’s meeting commenced at 19:10hrs and finished at 21:15hrs.

As with previous meetings, our attendance at this meeting was to represent the interests of those Mountain Rescue Teams operating within Greater Manchester.

The next meetings of this group are scheduled for Wednesday 30th July and Wednesday 29th October 2014.