Support in Action: RRT Fuels Emergency Teams at Sellafield

On November 12th, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) conducted a multi-agency nuclear training exercise in Sellafield, Cumbria. To support this critical event, Rapid Relief Team (RRT) volunteers from Lancaster provided essential refreshments, serving 160 burger meals to participants. This ensured everyone was well-fueled and ready to perform at their best throughout the day.

The CNC, an armed police force, safeguards civil nuclear sites and materials across the UK and Scotland. Its mission centres on securing licensed civil nuclear facilities and materials in transit. This training exercise was designed to test the emergency service’s strategic and tactical responses and assess how effectively they communicate and coordinate during large-scale incidents.

The Nuclear Training Exercise saw an impressive turnout, with emergency services gathering to train and prepare for real-life scenarios. The RRT Lancaster team stayed busy throughout the day, grilling burgers and serving hot drinks and refreshments to energise everyone. Team members and participants enjoyed meals and meaningful conversations, creating a warm and supportive atmosphere.

Steve Madden, CT Exercise Planner and Resilience Direct Admin, expressed heartfelt gratitude for RRT’s contributions, stating:

“A huge thank you to you and your team for providing lunches for the exercise participants. You and your staff were so full of energy and enthusiasm throughout the day, with an endless supply of drinks and exceptionally good burgers. A huge thank you from me personally for being so accommodating and coming all the way out to sunny Cumbria. The weather was great, which is quite rare for the Lakes in November!”

Full-scale safety drills, such as this one at Sellafield, are required annually and are closely monitored by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). These exercises ensure that everyone on-site is fully prepared to respond quickly and effectively in case of an emergency. To make sure the exercise is as accurate as possible, the specific time of the exercise is not mentioned beforehand, allowing participants to react as they would in an unanticipated situation.

RRT was proud to support this event, giving back to those who risk their lives daily to protect the community.