Volunteers & authorities: CREWS meets BSR NOVA network

A recent CREWS workshop at the BSR-NOVA meeting examined how authorities and civil society can work together more effectively to strengthen societal resilience across the Baltic Sea Region. On 10 November 2025, a CREWS workshop held during the meeting of the Baltic Sea Region Network of Volunteer Organisations and Authorities (BSR-NOVA) focused on how authorities…

Byadmin_bsrNovember 12, 20250Comments

PA Secure at EUSBSR Annual Forum in Sopot: BSR Capitals Connecting on preparedness and resilience

On 29 October 2025, at the EUSBSR Annual Forum in Sopot, PA Secure organised the session “Connected Capitals: Local Action, Regional Resilience”. Building on earlier cooperation among Nordic capitals, the session brought together city practitioners from Helsinki, Tallinn and Warsaw, backed up by fresh comparative research on urban preparedness from the University of Latvia. Moderated by Andriy Martynenko…

Byadmin_bsrNovember 3, 20250Comments

Civil Protection Volunteerism

RiA-ENGAGE kicks off: strengthening disaster preparedness with civil society in the Baltic Sea Region and Ukraine

On 14 October 2025, the new project RiA-ENGAGE (Resilience in Action – Advancing Disaster Preparedness through Civil Society Engagement) held its online kick-off meeting, bringing together partners from the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) and Ukraine. Led by the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), the project aims to strengthen disaster risk reduction (DRR) by…

Byadmin_bsrOctober 15, 20250Comments

Flagship Projects Volunteerism

CREWS Project Launches to Strengthen Disaster Preparedness Through Community Engagement

The CREWS project—Enhancing Capacities in Disaster Risk Reduction by Facilitating Public-Civil Cooperation—has officially launched with a successful kick-off meeting in Hamburg-Altona on 27–28 March 2025. This new large project aims to strengthen disaster risk reduction in the region by promoting closer collaboration between formal authorities and civil society actors. Led by the District Office of…

Byadmin_bsrApril 1, 20250Comments

Capacity building Civil Protection Volunteerism

Civil Protection Faculty Project Concludes – Cooperation with Ukraine Continues

The Civil Protection Faculty project, financed by the Swedish Institute, has made a significant contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s capacity in civil protection education, particularly in tactical medicine. This work, carried out by an NGO, consisting by a group of dedicated educators with the support of BSR experts, has played a crucial role in improving the…

Byadmin_bsrJanuary 2, 20250Comments

Children/Youth Flagship Projects Sendai Framework Volunteerism

Secure Kids: mechanism for child participation in disaster risk reduction activities

This mechanism has been developed within the Secure Kids project. A family brought their children to help with carrying sand bags in the flood? Local youth fire brigade would be a great help in spreading fire safety messages during dry summer? How to involve them in the most effective and safe way? If you are…

Byadmin_bsrOctober 18, 20240Comments

Capacity building Children/Youth Civil Protection Volunteerism

Are you ready to be self-sufficient for a week in case of a crisis? Estonian seminar on public awareness has the answers.

A few years ago, the most common advice for citizens regarding preparedness was: plan to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. In an emergency, government assistance may be prioritized for those in greater need. Households able to sustain themselves without electricity or water for three days would help reduce the pressure on government agencies.…

Byadmin_bsrOctober 10, 20240Comments

Civil Protection Volunteerism

BSR-NOVA: New Baltic Sea Region Network for Volunteers and Authorities in Civil Protection

Baltic Sea Region Network of Volunteer Organisations and Authorities (BSR-NOVA) was officially launched on 5 September 2024. The Network is established based on the groundwork laid by the subgroup of volunteers and local actors (2020-2024). This subgroup was initiated by Finland under the EUSBSR Policy Area Secure and CBSS Civil Protection Network. BSR-NOVA, chaired by…

Byadmin_bsrSeptember 10, 20240Comments

Capacity building Volunteerism

Online conference on volunteerism in civil protection: support Ukraine, learn from Ukraine

“This is extremely interesting! Can we organise a separate meeting with you? Would be great to know more about your HAKA database and Finnish legislation! – Of course, I will send you more information and we will set up a meeting!” – this exchange between Ukrainians and Finns is one of several moments showing that…

Byadmin_bsrMay 23, 20240Comments

PA Secure Volunteerism

PA Secure at EUSBSR Annual Forum in Riga: whole of society approach for resilience

Workshop “All hands on deck: safe and secure Baltic Sea Region through “whole-of-society” approach” was organised on 4 October 2023 by the Policy Area Secure of EUSBSR which is coordinated by the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and Swedish Contingencies Agency (MSB). The main aim of the workshop was to present the concept…

Byadmin_bsrOctober 5, 20230Comments