The Welsh Government has awarded a contract to extend National Flood Forum Services across Wales worth an estimated £178,000 (inc VAT).

The Welsh Government has awarded a £178,000 contract to develop proposals and associated costings for establishing National Flood Forum services on a wider basis across Wales and to provide a small number of Flood Action Groups in the short term, who can assist in the liaison with specific flooded communities following Storms Bert and Darragh.

Current estimated start and contract dates are 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026.

The single supplier direct contract award to the National Flood Forum (NFF) was made for technical reasons.

The NFF charity's services include advice for flooded communities, assisting communities preparing for flooding and advocating for flooded householders with third parties such as insurers.

The Forum's services differ to others in that they provide ongoing, long-term support to communities who have been impacted by flooding. The long-term support differentiates them from other in this field, who are almost exclusively focussed on helping communities during an event.

The NFF fill a "gap" between the general public and Risk Management Authorities (RMAs – local authorities and Natural Resources Wales. As such they are uniquely positioned to assist RMAs in working with communities, particularly where schemes are in development (which can take years) and communities need to be made more resilient in the interim period. For example, the NFF can help communities draft their own flood plans, which help them prepare for flooding and reduce the impacts.

Wales is looking to set up a similar operating model with National Flood Forum as England.