Students were involved in playing the roles of members of the public during a mock emergency scenario, creating a realistic environment for the MRA’s teams to practice incident contact centre response procedures.
The students took on diverse roles, from anxious residents to elected members, challenging the authority’s incident contact centre staff to think on their feet during a simulated mine water flooding incident, test their supporting resources and validate training.
As an operational organisation with Category 2 responder status, the MRA must be ready to react to issues around the clock across Great Britain, including critical public safety and environmental incidents.
This hands-on collaboration not only prepares the authority’s teams for real-life emergencies but also provides students the chance to undertake vital role-play hours required to graduate, bolstering their confidence in the performing arts and increasing their professional readiness.
Resilience manager at the Mining Remediation Authority, Hannah Thomas, said: “This collaboration is a perfect example of how we can work together with local institutions to achieve shared goals. It was a great day– not only did we enhance our ability to respond effectively to critical incidents, but we also contributed to the development of talented local students.”
It’s the second time the MRA, which has its headquarters in Mansfield, has run this type of training session after reaching out to the college to host a similar exercise in July 2024.
The initiative underscores the authority’s dedication to community engagement and educational support while enhancing its own preparedness to protect public safety.
Bethany Marshall, work placement officer for the college, said: "The students are required to fulfil a certain amount of hours for their course to pass, it's a mandatory part of their education."
“This exercise gave our students a rare opportunity to apply their skills in a professional setting while contributing to public safety. They’ve enjoyed being part of it and there’s been great camaraderie, so it's helped with team building as well."
The MRA looks forward to expanding collaborations like these, ensuring both community engagement and operational excellence remain at the heart of its mission in creating a better future for people and the environment in mining areas.