Needs and Offers

• Attempt to contact the emergency services by phoning 111. 
• Make sure the Hub Supervisor is advised as soon as possible. 
• Pass the information to the Emergency Operations Centre through the Communications team. 

Set up display boards near the entrance to the Hub marked “Offers” and “Needs”. You may also need tables to make it easier to collect and write requests and offers. 

Make sure people record: 

• Date & time (especially if the offer or need expires – e.g. a place to stay until Monday). 
• Name and contact details of the person or organisation posting the message, or where to find them. 
• A clear description of what is needed or what is offered. 

Check the new offers or requests for assistance to see whether you know of an existing need or offer that matches. 

Display requests for assistance (Needs) or offers of assistance (Offers) on the boards: 

• Group Needs by themes such as labour required, accommodation, clean-up equipment etc. 
• Group Offers by themes such as equipment, manual labour, shelter, food, water, etc. 

• Remove requests when the need has been matched with an offer. 
• Note how the problem was solved, it may be useful again. Do not destroy completed notes, keep them for the Hub records. 
• Remove offers when they have been used up or are no longer available. 

• In some cases offers may be large (e.g. from a supermarket) or be a critical resource or skill needed by many. 
• Requests for assistance could also be large or life-threatening (e.g. people needing rescue). These requests should be forwarded to the Hub Supervisor to make sure the community response is coordinated and the Emergency Operations Centre is informed. 

If you come across any information that could affect the community, the running of the Hub, or the wider response to the emergency, pass it on to the Information Coordination team.