Flemish ministers urge citizens to join local volunteer corps

Flemish minister-president Matthias Diependaele (N-VA) and vice-minister-president Hilde Crevits (CD&V) have called on citizens to join newly formed municipal volunteer corps aimed at strengthening local resilience in times of crisis.

Speaking at a press conference following a training session by the Belgian Red Cross-Flanders in Brussels, the ministers announced that Flanders will invest €1 million annually in training and support. The initiative, part of the Flemish Defence Plan, seeks to prepare communities for emergencies such as floods, power outages, or food distribution needs.

From Wednesday, municipalities can register to establish their own corps. Up to 15,000 volunteers are expected to be trained across the region. Citizens aged 16 and over will be able to enrol from autumn.

”We are opting for a model of civil preparedness.”

“A resilient municipality is prepared for the unexpected”, said Crevits. “Many Flemings have valuable skills and are eager to make a difference when disaster strikes.”

Diependaele added: “The Flemish Defence Plan doesn’t start in a barracks or end with weapons. It begins in the town square, with the people themselves. We are opting for a model of civil preparedness.”

Volunteers will support professional responders with tasks such as logistics and administration during local crises. Each participant will receive basic first aid training. Corps sizes will range from 10 to 80 members.

^{Flemish minister-president Diependaele and vice-minister-president Hilde Crevits follow first aid training by Belgian Red Cross-Flanders © BELGA VIDEO Jan Nagels}

^{#FlandersNewsService | Flemish minister-president Diependaele and vice-minister-president Hilde Crevits © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM}