Volunteer civil defence group forms in UK to prepare for potential conflict, plans war game at Bath University

politics | Sky News | 2026-05-25T19:48:00.000Z

An unofficial civil defence organisation called the Joint Civil Aid Corps has formed in the UK with volunteers preparing for potential conflict or major emergencies. Founded by Colin, a man with minimal training, the group aims to recruit 80,000-110,000 volunteers. A two-day war game at Bath University in July will rehearse responses to hostile attacks on the UK.

An unofficial civil defence organisation has formed in the United Kingdom with volunteers who are preparing for the possibility of conflict reaching European shores. The Joint Civil Aid Corps, founded by a man named Colin who has minimal relevant training, currently has membership in the low hundreds but harbours ambitions to recruit between 80,000 and 110,000 volunteers when fully operational.

Meeting in a derelict hospital in London, the volunteers wear their own uniforms and discuss how they might assist in peacetime emergencies such as severe weather. But they are also explicitly ready to assist should the UK once again be at war. In the event of any form of hostilities from abroad, we can work with other organisations to rebuild what was a civil defence service during World War II, Colin explained.

The group has struggled to gain official recognition. When asked about the Cabinet Office's reaction, Colin admitted the difficulty is getting past the gateways to speak to these people. Sally, a baker by day who heads the London branch, said she wants to be there to help the community with what's needed, supporting emergency services. On Monday, the group will mark what they call National Civil Defence Day.

Separately, Nick Gould, one of the last local government officials to receive formal Cold War-era civil defence training in the 1980s, will run a two-day war game at Bath University in July. The exercise will rehearse the effects of a hostile attack upon the United Kingdom, including the transition period and post-attack recovery phase. He noted there is always a risk that conflict could come to Europe.

When the Cold War ended, civil defence planning was shelved nationwide, leaving what experts describe as a big knowledge gap for local authorities. The country excels at counter-terrorism and major incidents, but a scenario involving multiple simultaneous threats would change the landscape dramatically. Currently, Gould's initiative receives no support from central government, highlighting the gap between grassroots preparedness and official policy.