The Great Cornwall Grab Bag Challenge
Could You Cope with Leaving Home Quickly?
Win a Lunch for Two by Building Your Emergency Grab Bag!
Listen to the BBC Radio Cornwall interview here:
Extreme weather and impacts are becoming part of life in Cornwall and the rest of the UK.
As our climate changes (as it always has, but this one with added emissions) and our seas warm, many parts of the country are expected to experience more frequent and more intense storms, flooding and heatwaves with fires. These events can lead to power cuts, travel disruption and interruptions to essential services.
It isn’t always an easy message to share, but it is one we believe is important. The good news is that one simple action can make a huge difference to how confident, capable and resilient you feel if the unexpected happens.
Why build a grab bag?
An emergency grab bag is simply a collection of essential items that are ready to use if your home loses power or you need to leave quickly.
Putting one together usually takes just a couple of hours and doesn’t have to cost a lot. Yet being prepared can reduce anxiety and stress, helping you and your family feel more confident should an emergency occur.
Being prepared isn’t about fear – it’s about peace of mind.
At Climate Vision, we also believe that resilience and climate action go hand in hand. Alongside preparing for extreme weather, we all have a role in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change. That’s why every entrant will receive our FREE Climate Vision information sheet in the post, packed with practical “golden actions” to help you become more climate capable – also aware of good news stories – while also helping to reduce future climate impacts.
Enter our Grab Bag Competition!
Once you’ve put together your emergency grab bag, we’d love to see it!
Take a photograph of yourself wearing or carrying your grab bag. If you’re unable to do that, you can instead photograph your grab bag or lay out your emergency supplies and photograph them.
Please email your photograph by Saturday 19 September 2026, together with confirmation that your grab bag contains the recommended essential items for your household, to:
If your entry is selected as a winner, you’ll also be confirming that you’re happy for Climate Vision to use your photograph to inspire others to prepare for emergencies through our website, social media and other educational materials.
PLEASE SUBMIT PHOTOGRAPHS OF ADULTS ONLY.
What should your grab bag include?
Our checklist is based on the UK Government’s emergency preparedness guidance.
Your grab bag should contain, as appropriate for your household:
- Battery or wind-up torch (safer than candles)
- Portable power bank for charging your mobile phone
- Battery or wind-up radio
- Spare batteries
- Backup battery for essential medical equipment (if required)
- First aid kit
- Hand sanitiser and wet wipes
- Bottled drinking water
- Non-perishable food and a tin opener
- Baby supplies, if required
- Essential medication
- Warm, waterproof clothing
- Rubber gloves
- Toys or comfort items for children or pets, if appropriate
Your grab bag should include the recommended items that are appropriate for your household. If an item doesn’t apply to you – for example baby supplies or medication – it isn’t required.
This checklist is intended to encourage household preparedness and does not replace official emergency advice. Always follow instructions from the emergency services and the UK Government during an emergency.
For more information about preparing for emergencies, visit the UK Government’s Prepare website:
https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies/
Win a delicious local prize!
We’re delighted to offer THREE PRIZES, each consisting of:
Lunch for Two at Zafiros, Truro
Each of the 3 prizes are worth £60 at the family-owned restaurant and bar, which champions locally sourced food.
Vouchers are valid until 31 December 2026, giving winners plenty of time to enjoy a meal in Truro or even give the voucher as a Christmas gift.
Competition Dates
Entries open: Saturday 15 August 2026
Closing date: Saturday 19 September 2026
Winners announced: Thursday 24 September 2026
Judging
Entries will be judged by:
- Gitty Ankers – Cornwall Community Flood Forum
- Matthew Facey – Mevagissey Flood Group, Matt Facey Photography & Climate Skills Champion
- Mary Lindsay – Truro Women’s Institute -Climate Ambassador, Climate Skills Champion
The judges will select the entries that best demonstrate thoughtful emergency preparedness and help inspire others to become more resilient.
The judges’ decision is final.
Terms & Conditions (Summary)
- Open to UK residents aged 18 and over.
- Under 18s may enter with parental or guardian consent.
- Entry is free.
- One entry per household.
- Entries must be received by 19 September 2026.
- Climate Vision may publish winning photographs where permission has been given.
- Prizes are non-cash but may be gifted to another person.
- Climate Vision reserves the right to amend or cancel the competition if necessary.
Your Privacy
We take your privacy seriously.
When you enter, we’ll collect your name, email address, photograph and confirmation that you’ve assembled your emergency grab bag. We’ll only use this information to administer the competition, contact winners and—if you give permission—share winning photographs to encourage others to prepare for emergencies.
We’ll never sell your personal information.
You may withdraw permission for future use of your photograph at any time by emailing luci@climatevision.co.uk.
Competition records will normally be kept for up to 12 months after the competition closes, while photographs you’ve agreed we may publish may continue to be used for Climate Vision educational campaigns until you withdraw your consent.
If you have any questions about how we use your personal information, please contact luci@climatevision.co.uk.
Let’s build a more resilient Cornwall – and a more resilient UK – one grab bag at a time.
You know it makes sense to be prepared! Thanks for taking the time to be stronger
